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ANNALS   OF  ANNAPOLIS, 

coxpRisiNa 
SUNDRY   NOTICES   OF  THAT   OLD   CITY 

FROM    THE    PERIOD    OF 

THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENTS  IN  ITS  VICINITY  IN  THE 
YEAR   1649,   UNTIL   THE    WAR  OF   1812: 

TOGETHER    WITH 

VARIOUS   INCIDENTS   IN   THE   HISTOUY   OP  MARYLAND, 

DERIVED    FROJf 

EARLY   RECORDS,    PUBLIC   DOCUMENTS, 

AND    OTHER    SOURCES: 

WITH    AN    APPENDIX, 

Containing  a  number  of  Letters  from 
GENER.\L   WASHINGTON,   AND   OTHER    DISTINGUISHED   PERSONS, 

WHICH    LKTTSRS    HAVE   KEVER   BEEN   FDBU8BED  BEFORE. 


COMPILED    AND    EDITED   BT 

DAVID     RIDGELY, 

Librarian  of  the  State  Library. 


BALTIMORE: 
FUBLISHED    BY    GUSHING    &    BROTHER. 

1841. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1840, 

By   David    Rid  gel  y, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Maryland. 


JOHN  D.  Toy,  printer 


p. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  author  of  the  following  pages  entertaining  the 
belief,  that  their  publication  might  be  acceptable  to 
his  fellow-citizens,  has  committed  them  to  the  press, 
in  the  hope  that  his  readers  may  derive  something 
of  interest  and  entertainment  from  their  perusal.  In 
taking  this  step,  he  has  had  many  misgivings.  Diffi- 
dent of  his  ability  to  invest  his  subject  with  the  interest 
that  belongs  to  it,  he  would  have  been  loath  indeed  to 
give  'The  Annals  of  Annapolis'  publicity,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  absence  of  any  such  publication. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  by  his  readers,  that  this 
work  is  intended  to  supply  the  place  of  biography. 
The  lives  of  eminent  citizens  form  a  part  of  the  history 
of  the  times  in  which  they  acted  and  flourished,  but 
that  minuteness  of  detail  which  belong  to  such  efforts 
is  neither  within  his  reach,  nor  within  the  scope  of  this 
design.  Eminent'  men  are  occasionally  mentioned, 
when  they  are  necessarily  associated  with  the  annals  of 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

the  city,  but,  at  the  same  time,  many  citizens  of  learn- 
ing, parts  and  patriotism,  must  escape  particular  men- 
tion in  such  a  work  as  this. 

He  has  gathered  his  materiel  from  the  records  and 
documents  within  his  reach.  He  is  greatly  indebted 
for  much  of  it  to  *Bozman's'  and  'McMahon's  Histo- 
ries of  Maryland,'  'Henning's  Statutes  at  Large  of 
Virginia,'  'The  Maryland  Gazette,'  a  series  of  essays 
under  the  caption  of  'The  Annapoliad,'  'Bacon's  Laws 
of  Maryland,'  and  'Eddis's  Letters  from  America,'  and 
to  a  late  venerable  Lady  of  Annapolis,  for  many  tradi- 
tionary reminiscences. 

He  bespeaks  for  this  publication  the  clemency  of  a 
generous  public. 


■^-  \  .  ,,v?'» 


\t''-* 


PREFACE. 


The  original  design  in  collecting  and  arranging  the 
materials  contained  in  this  volume,  was  merely  to  give 
some  outlines  of  the  Annals  of  Annapolis,  "but  so 
limited  were  the  records  and  documents  on  that  head, 
that  it  was  from  necessity  partially  abandoned.  In 
those  periods  where  nothing  immediately  connected 
with  Annapolis  was  found,  incidents  in  relation  to  the 
history  of  the  Province  and  State  of  Maryland,  have 
been  introduced. 

The  labour  in  doing  this  was  greater  than  the  com- 
piler anticipated.  But  if  any  reader  shall  find  enter- 
tainment, or  be  gratified  by  its  perusal,  the  Author 
will  not  be  disappointed. 

The  authorities  and  documents  from  which  these 
pages  have  been  compiled,  are  generally  acknow- 
ledged. It  would  be  difficult,  and  perhaps  unnecessary, 
to  name  particularly  every  source  from  which  informa- 
tion has  been  obtained.     For  the  use  of  that  rare  and 


VUl  PREFACE. 

valuable  file  of  papers,  The  Maryland  Gazette,  ac- 
knowledgments are  here  tendered  to  Jonas  Green, 
Esquire,  the  descendant  of  the  first  venerated  and 
venerable  printer  of  Maryland. 

Many^  defects  will  doubtless  be  apparent  in  the 
style  of  this  work,  but  when  it  is  remembered  that 
no  claim  to  skill  in  literary  composilion  is  made  (and 
fortunately  but  little  or  none  was  required  in  this  un- 
dertaking) the  generous  and  the  learned  will  overlook 
all  such  deficiencies  as  may  meet  the  eye  of  the  critic, 
and  do  justice  to  the  intention  and  object  of  this 
collection. 

Being  in  possession  of  some  original  letters  from 
general  Washington  and  a  few  other  distinguished 
men  of  his  day,  which  it  is  believed  have  not  hithertjO 
been  published,  they  are  placed  in  an  Appendix  to  this 
volume,  and  perhaps  will  form  the  most  interesting 
part  of  it. 

Fearful  that  the  importance  of  the  facts  that  are 
detailed,  may  be  overlooked,  from  the  want  of  skill  in 
setting  theni  forth,  this  volume  is  now  given  to  the 
public  for  what  it  is  worth ;  even  a  small  tribute  to  the 
history  of  his  native  State,  will,  he  trusts,  be  accept- 
able to  his  fellow-citizens. 

Annapolis,  Dec.  1840. 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  I. 


Cecilius,  Lord  Baltimore,  prepares  for  sending  out  a  Colony — Ap- 
points his  brother  to  conduct  it — They  depart  from  Cowes — Arrive 
in  the  Chesapeake — Sail  up  the  Potomac — Fix  upon  St.  Mary's 
for  the  first  settlement — Reception  by  the  Natives — Father  Andrev? 
■White— Town  of  St.  Mary's— The  Capital  of  the  Province— An 
Assembly  called — Act  of  Virginia  against  dissenting  Ministers — 
The  Puritans  leave  Virginia — Take  refuge  in  Maryland — And 
settle  at  Providence,  novF  Annapolis — Oath  of  Fidelity — Mr.  Thos. 
Greene  appointed  governor  in  the  absence  of  Governor  William 
Stone — He  proclaims  the  Prince  of  Wales — The  inhabitants  of 
Providence  prefer  the  dominion  of  the  Commonwealth — Governor 
Stone  returns — Calls  an  Assemby — The  Puritans  refuse  to  attend  — 
Governor  Stone  visits  Providence — Returns  Burgesses  to  the  As- 
sembly— They  attend — Providence  organized  into  a  county,  called 
Anne  Arundel — Murders  committed  by  the  Indians — Susquebanock 
Indians — Preparations  against  the  Indians, 13 

Chapter  II. 

Tranquility  of  the  Province — Governor  Stone  visits  Providence — Ap- 
points Mr.  Edward  Lloyd  commander  of  Anne  Arundel  county — 
Appoints  Commissioners — The  Puritans  at  Providence  again  re- 
fuse to  send  Delegates  to  the  Assembly — Bennett  and  Claiborne 
reduce  the  Colony  of  Maryland — Governor  Stone  retained  in  office 
by  them — Is  soon  deprived  of  bis  office  by  them — The  Colony  sub- 
mits to  the  Commonwealth  of  England— Governor  Stone  rein- 
stated—Cromwell proclaimed  in  the  Province^Governor  Stone 
declares  the  Puritans  at  Providence  to  be  enemies  of  Lord  Balti- 
more— The  Province  again  reduced^Governor  Stone  rebuked  by 
Lord  Baltimore  for  resigning  his  Government^Governor  Stone 
re-assumes  his  office  and  powers  as  Governor — Organizes  a  Militarj- 
Force — Seizes  the  Provincial  Records— Secures  the  Arms  and 


X  CONTENTS. 

Ammnnition  of  the  Province — Governor  Stone  makes  prepara- 
tions to  reduce  Anne  Arundel  to  submission,  and  marches  tovyards 
the  Severn — Arrives  at  Herring  Creek — Appears  in  the  River 
Severn — The  Golden  Lion — Governor  Stmie's  party  land  on  Horn 
Point — Captain  Fuller,  at  the  head  of  th«'uritan3  of  Providence, 
marches  to  meet  them — Battle  on  Horn  Point — Governor  Stone 
condemned  to  Death — The  Soldiers  refuse  to  execute  him — Others 
executed— The  Property  of  Govej-nor  Stone  and  his  party  seques- 
tered— Lord  Baltimore  restored  to  his  Rights  by  the  Lord  Protec- 
tor— Appoints  captain  Josiah  Fendall  Governor — The  Puritans  ac- 
knowledge the  authority  of  Lord   Baltimore — Acknowledgment, 

40 

Chapter  III. 

Contempt  of  Assembly — Trial  of  Edward  Erbery — Condemned  and 
Whipped — Witchcraft — Condemnation  of  John  Cowman — And  par- 
doned— The  Quakers  remonstrate  against  taking  Oaths — Proceed- 
ings of  the  Assembly  thereon — Indian  Affairs — Protection  of  the 
Indians  by  the  Colonists — Hostility  of  the  Susquehanocks — Causes 
of — Treaty  with  them — Murders  committed  by  the  Indians — Expe- 
dition against  them — Five  Chiefs  of  the  Susquehanocks  murdered — 
Impeachment  of  Major  Thomas  Truman — His  Trial  and  Convic- 
tion— Proceedings  of  the  Assembly  thereon — Controversy  between 
the  Lord  Proprietary  and  the  Lower  House  of  Assembly  upon  the 
Act  for  calling^  Assemblies — Extracts  from  the  Rules  of  the  Lower 
House  of  Assembly — Annapolis  erected  into  a  Town,  &,c. — Com- 
missioners appointed  to  survey  and  lay  out  Annapolis — Annapolis 
becomes  the  Seat  of  Government — Governor  Nicholson  causes  the 
Records  to  be  removed  from  St.  Mary's — Public  Ferry — First  Cor- 
poration of  Annapolis — Mr.  Richard  Beard  makes  a  map  of  the 
Town — A  Market  and  Fair — Proposition  for  a  Bridewell — Im- 
provement of  Annapolis — A  Church  proposed  to  be  erected — King 
William's  School  established — William  Pinkney  a  Student  of  it — 
Governor  Nicholson  projects  a  Library  for  Annapolis — A  State- 
House  built — Roman  Catholics — Persecution  of,  ....    ,    55 

Chapter  IV. 

Dispute  between  Governor  Nicholson  and  the  Lower  House  of  As- 
sembly— They  become  reconciled — Governor  Nicholson  leaves  this 
Province  to  preside  over  Virginia — Petition  of  Mr.  John  Perry — 
James  Crawford,  a  Delegate,  killed  by  lightning — First  public 
Jail — State-House  burnt  down— A  new  one  erected — Described — 
Improvement  of  the  town — A  plot  for  burning  of  Annapolis,  disco- 


CONTENTS.  XI 

vered — Bounds  of  Annapolis — Annapolis  chartered — Description 
of  Annapolis — Delegates  from  Annapolis  to  receive  only  half 
wages — Improvements — Mr.  James  Stoddart  appointed  to  lay  off 
anew  the  city — Mr.  Wm.  Parks  appointed  to  compile  the  Laws  of 
the  Province — Improvements — Appropriation  to  build  a  Govern- 
ment-House— Mr.  Jonas  Green  appointed  Printer  to  the  Pro- 
vince— His  character — Editor  of  the  Maryland  Gazette — The  first 
public  horseracing — Aurora  Borealis — South  River  Club — Mili- 
tary movements  at  Annapolis — Anniversary  of  George  the  Se- 
cond— Trade  and  Commerce  of  Annapolis — The  first  Ship- Yard — 
Brig  Lovely  Nancy — Notices  of  some  of  the  oldest  houses  of  the 
town — The  old- Episcopal  Church — Indians — King  Abraham  and 
Queen  Sarah — A  Hiccory  Switch — A  Jockey  Club  formed — Races — 
The  first  Theatre  built — The  first  Lottery  drawn  in  the  Province — 
Crovernor  Sharp  arrives  at  Annapolis — The  military  march  from 
Annapolis  against  the  French  on  the  Ohio — General  Braddock  and 
other  distinguished  persons  arrive  at  Annapolis-^Doctor  Charles 
Carroll,  his  death — Annapolis  entrenched — Hostilities  of  the 
French  and  Indians — Small-pox, 101 

Chapter  V. 

Forts  on  the  Border  Country — Fort  Frederick — Reduction  of  Que- 
bec— A  Company  of  Comedians  at  Annapolis — Stone  Wind-mill 
erected — Collection  for  the  sufferers  by  fire  at  Boston — Ball-room — 
Cold  winter — Stamp  Act — Proceeding  at  Annapolis  on — Maryland 
Gazette — Sons  of  Liberty — Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act — A  new  The- 
atre opened — Gov.  Eden  arrives  at  Annapolis — His  character — 
Death  and  burial — Articles  of  Non-importation,  &c. — Arrival  of 
Brig  Good  Intent — Resolute  course  pursued  by  the  Association — 
Its  results — Mr.  Wm.  Eddis — Annapolis  described — Whitehall — 
Governor  Sharpe — His  character — Appropriation  to  build  the  pre- 
sent State-House — Commissioners  appointed-^The  Foundation 
laid — Incident — Dimensions  of  the  building — The  Architect — An- 
niversary of  the  Proprietary's  birth — Rejoicings  at  Annapolis — La- 
dies of  Annapolis — Saint  Tamina  Society — Their  Proceedings — 
Theatre  opened — Trustees  appointed  by  the  Legislature,  to  the 
Theatre — Theatre  pulled  down— Causes  which  led  to  it — Mr.  Dun- 
lap — Trustees  appointed  to  build  a  new  Church — Meeting  of  the 
Citizens  of  Annapolis — Their  proceedings  on  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment for  blockading  the  Harbour  of  Boston — Some  portion  of  their 
Resolves  dissented  from  by  many  Citizens — Proceedings  of  the 
Dissentients — Burning  of  the  Brig  Peggy  Stewart— And  the  tea 
on  board — The  f  ^oceedings  had  thereon, ^31 


XU  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  VI. 

Tea  Burning  in  Frederick  County — The  Citizens  of  Annapolis  or- 
ganized into  Military  Companies — Proceedings  of  the  Baltimore 
Committee  of  Observation — The  ship  Totness,  with  salt  on  board, 
burnt  just  below  Annapolis — General  Charles  Lee — Massachus^s* 
Colony — Lord  Viscount  Barrington — Addresses — Gen.  Burgoyne — 
And  Gen.  Lee — Council  of  Safety — Chart  of  the  Harbour  of  Anna- 
polis— Appropriation  to  fortify  the  City — Fortifications — Slaughter 
Houses — Certain  Citizens  ordered  to  leave  the  City — Colonel  John 
Weems  before  the  Committee  of  Safety — Their  proceedings  there- 
on— Captures  in  the  Chesapeake,  by  Capt.  Nicholson,  of  the  ship 
Defence — Offers  Battle  to  Otter  Sloop  of  War — Balls  prohibited 
throughout  the  Province — A  Declaration  of  the  Delegates  of  Mary- 
land— Meeting  of  the  Associations  of  the  City  of  AnnapoHs — Their 
Proceedings — Maryland  Troops  lea^e  Annapolis  for  Philadelphia — 
Letters  from  Philadelphia — Appeal  to  Maryland — Responded  to — 
Battle  on  Long  Island — Maryland  Troops— Major  Gist — Maryland 
Officers  made  prisoners  at  Long  Island — Thomas  Johnson,  jr.  Esq. 
Governor  of  Maryland— British  Ships  of  War  pass  up  the  Bay — 
Gov.  Johnson's  Proclamation — Mr.  Griffith — Baltimore  Troops — 
Battle  of  Brandywine — General  Smallwood — Colonel  Smith — Fort 
Mifflin— Surrender  of  General  Burgoyne — Count  Pulaski — Battle 
of  Monmouth — Letter  from  Commodore  Grason  to  Gov.  Johnson — 
Battle  at  the  Capes — Winter  of  1780— Chesapeake  crossed  by 
carts  and  carriages — Baron  de  Kalb — Battle  of  Camden — The 
Baron  wounded — His  death — Congress  vqted  a  Monument  to  his 
memcM-y — To  be  erected  in  Annapolis — Inscription  for  the  Monu- 
ment— Extracts  of  Letters  relative  to  the  Battle  of  Camden — Mary- 
land Troops— Battle  of  the  Cowpens — Col.  Howard — Maryland 
Troops — British  Sloops  of  War  off  Annapolis — General  Lafayette 
drives  them  down  the  Bay — Meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Annapolis — 
To  consider  the  Acts  of  Assembly — For  the  Emission  of  Money 
Bills — Their  Proceedings — Militia  Assembled  at  Annapolis — Bri- 
tish Fleet  arrives  before  York — Troops  landed — Maryland  Regi- 
ment marches  from  Annapolis  to  join  the  Southern  Army — The 
Recruiting  Service — Gen.  Smallwood — The  Fourth  Maryland  Re- 
giment marches  from  Annapolis  to  join  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette — 
The  French  Fleet,  kc.  at  Annapolis — From  the  Head  of  Elk — 
The  French  Army  arrives  from  the  North  about  the  same  time,  on 
their  way  to  Virginia — Battle  of  Eutaw — Extract  of  a  Letter  from 
Camp — Col.  Howard — Maryland  and  Virginia  Troops — Officers 
killed  and  wounded  at  Eutaw — Surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis — 
Rejoicing  at  Annapolis, 163 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

Chapter  VII. 

General  Washington  arrives  at  Annapolis — Public  Dinner — Ball — 
The  Citizens  address  him — His  Answer — He  leaves  the  City — 
The  Birth  of  a  Dauphin  celebrated  at  Annapolis— Count  Rocham- 
beau  arrives  at  Annapolis — Embarks  for  France — Cessation  of 
Hostilities — Public  Rejoicing — Public  Dinner — Toasts  on  the  Oc- 
casion— State-House  Illuminated — Ball — Peace — General  Greene 
arrives  at  Annapolis — Corporate  Authorities  of  the  City  address 
him — (Jeneral  Greene's  Reply — The  Society  of  Cincinnatti  for  the 
State  of  Maryland  formed  in  Annapolis — Officers  of  the  Maryland 
Line — Congress  in  Session  at  Annapolis — General  Washington  ar- 
rives there  —Is  entertained  by  the  Citizens — Corporate  Authorities 
address  him — His  Reply — General  Washington  resigns  his  Com- 
mission into  the  hands  of  the  Congress — Proceedings  of  Con- 
gress thereon — General  Washington  again  visits  Annapolis  accom- 
panied by  General  Lafayette — They  are  entertained  by  the  General 
Assembly — General  Lafayette — Addressed  by  the  Governor  and 
Council,  and  by  the  Legislature — His  Answers — The  General  As- 
sembly naturalizes  General  Lafayette — St.  John's  Col(||ge^-The 
President  of  the  United  States  arrives  at  Annapolis — His  Recep- 
tion— Annapolis — Baltimore — Citizens  of  Annapolis  address  the 
President  of  the  United  States — The  President's  Reply — Defence 
of  Annapolis — Tribute  to  the  Memory  of  Washington — General 
Tureau,  arrives  at  Annapolis — His  Reception — William  Pinkney 
arrives  at  Annapolis — His  Reception — Public  Dinner — Officers  and 
Crew  of  the  Frigate  Philadelphia — Meeting  of  the  Citizens  of 
Annapolis — Frigate  Chesapeake — Proceedings  of  the  Citizens — 
Piracy  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay — Pirates  Captured — Conclusion,  200 

•  Chapter  VIII. 

City  of  Annapolis — Its  Population — Shipping — Its  Site — Its  Advan- 
tages— Naval  Academy — The  Round  Bay — Rail  Road — Its  proxi- 
mity to  the  seat  of  the  National  Government — Its  Harbour — The 
Treasury — The  Government-house — St.  John's  College — Epis- 
copal Church — Roman  Catholic  Chapel — Methodist  Church — 
African  House  of  Worship — The  Farmers'  Bank  of  Maryland — 
Court-house— City  Hall— City  Hotel— Ball-room— Theatre— The 
Garrison  at  Fort  Severn, 230 

A  list  of  the  Governors  of  the  Province  and  State  of  Maryland, 
firom  the  First  Settlement  in  1633  to  1840, 249 


XIV  CONTENTS. 


APPENDIX. 


Letter  from  General  Charles  Lee  to  the  President  of  the  Council 

of  Safety  of  Maryland, 251 

Letter  from  the  Hon'ble  John  Hancock  to  the  Convention  of 

Maryland, 254 

Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,          .        •      ,  •        •        .        256 
Letter  from  Colonel  Smallwood  to  the  President  of  the  Conven- 
tion,   256 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Thomas  Johnson,  Jr.  Gover- 
nor of  Maryland, 263 

Letter  from  the  same  to  Daniel  of  St.  Thomas  Jenifer  and 

William  Fitzhugh, 264 

Letter  from  the  same,  to  Governor  Lee,  of  Maryland,  .  .  265 
Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,         .....        265 

Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same, 266 

Letter  frmn  the  same  to  Philip  Schuyler,  John  Matthews  and 
Nathairol  Peabody,  Committee  of  Co-operation  in  Congress,    267 

Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same, 269 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Committee  of  Co-opera- 
tion in  Congress, 269 

Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same, 270 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Governor  Lee,  of  Maryland,  272 
Letter  from  the  same  to  the  Committee  of  Co-operation  in 

Congress, 272 

Letter  from  the  same  to  George  Plater  and  William  Brud*,  .  275 
Letter  from  the  same  to  Governor  Lee,  ....  275 
Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,  {Extract,)  ....  276 
Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,  .        .        .  •      .        .        276 

Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same, 278 

Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same, 279 

Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same, 280 

Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,  (Extract,)         .        .        .        281 
Letter  from  General  Greeae  to  Governor  Lee,  ....    282 
Letter  from  Colonel  Armand  to  the  Governor  of  Maryland, 
(Paca,) 282 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Cecilius,  Lord  Baltimore,  prepares  for  sending  out  a  Colony — Ap- 
points his  brother  to  conduct  it — They  depart  from  Cowes — Arrive 
in  the  Chesapeake — Sail  up  the  Potomac — Fix  upon  St.  Mary's  for 
the  first  settlement — Reception  by  the  Natives-— Father  Andrew 
White — Town  of  St.  Mary's — The  Capital  of  the  Province — An 
Assembly  called — Act  of  Virginia  against  dissenting  Ministers — 
The  Puritans  leave  Virginia — Take  refuge  in  Maryland — And 
settle  at  Providence,  now  Annapolis — Oath  of  Fidelity — Mr.  Thos. 
Greene  appointed  governor  in  the  absence  of  Governor  William 
Stone — He  proclaims  the  Prince  of  Wales — The  inhabitants  of 
Providence  prefer  the  dominion  of  the  Commonwealth — Governor 
Stone  returns — Calls  an  Assembly — The  Puritans  refuse  to  attend — 
Governor  Stone  visits  Providence — Returns  Burgesses  to  the  As- 
sembly— They  attend — Providence  organized  into  a  County,  called 
Anne  Arundel — Murders  committed  by  the  Indians — Susquebanock 
Indians — Preparations  against  the  Indians. 

Cecilius  Calvert,  Lord  Baron  of  Balti- 
more, having  succeeded  to  the  proprietary  rights' 
of  his  father,  George  Calvert,  and  having  obtained  pos- 
session of  the  charter*  for  the  government  of  the  province 
of  Maryland,  made  his  preparations  for  planting  this 
colony.    These  preparations  -were  begun  in  June,  1632. 

•  The  royal  grant  was  given  on  condition  that  Hvjo  Indian  arrows 
of  those  parts'  should  be  delivered  at  Windsor  Castle,  every  year,  on 
Tuesday,  in  Easter- week :  and  also,  the  fifth  part  of  all  the  gold  and 
silver  which  might  be  found  within  the  province, 
2 


14  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  difficulty  of  procuring  and  furnishing  a  sufficient 
number  of  colonists,  with  the  necessary  conveniences 
to  enable  them  permanently  to  form  their  colony, 
caused  some  delay  before  their  departure  from  Eng- 
land. 

It  was  not  until  this  year  that  the  colonists 

were  ready  to  embark  on  their  voyage,  and  Lord 
Baltimore,  who  had  originally  designed  to  acpompany 
them  in  person,  changed  his  mind,  and  appointed  his 
brother,  Leonard  Calvert,  Esquire,  to  go  in  his  stead, 
in  the  character  of  governor,  or  lieutenant-general. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  1633,  they  sailed  from 

Cowes,  in   the  Isle  of  Wight,  and    on  the  24th  of 

February,  1634,  arrived  off  Point  Comfort  in  Virginia. 

After  entering  the  Potomac  and  sailing  up 

that  river  about  fourteen  leagues,  they  came  to 
an  island  called  'Heron  Island,'  and  anchored  under 
another  neighbouring  isle,  to  which  they  gave  the 
name  of  'St.  Clements.'  Here  the  governor  landed, 
and  setting  up  a  cross,  in  the  Roman  Catholic  manner, 
took  formal  possession  of  the  country;  'for  our  Saviour 
and  for  our  sovereign  lord  the  king  of  England.'  But 
the  governor  on  reflection  thinking  it  would  not  be 
advisable  to  settle  so  high  up  the  river,  in  the  infancy 
of  the  colony,  determined  to  seek  for  a  settlement 
further  down.  He,  therefore,  returned  down  the  Poto- 
mac, taking  captain  Fleet  with  him.  They  proceeded 
to  a  small  river  on  the  north  side  of  the  Potomac, 
within  four  or  five  leagues  of  its  mouth,  which  the 
governor  called  'St.  George's  river.'  Sailing  up  this 
river  about  four  leagues,  they  came  to  an  Indian  town, 
called  by  the  natives  Yoamaco,  from  whence  the  tribe 
here  inhabiting,  was  called  Yoamacoes.     The  governor 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  16 

having  landed  here,  entered  into  a  treaty  with  the  We- 
rowance,  or  chief  of  the  tribe — who,  with  the  natives, 
agreed  to  leave  the  whole  town  to  the  English,  as 
soon  as  they  could  gather  their  corn  ;  and  which  they 
faithfully  performed.  The  governor  then,  on  the  27th 
of  March,  1634,  caused  the  colonists  to  land,  and 
according  to  the  agreement,  took  possession  of  the 
town,  which  they  named  ^St.  Mary^s.^ 

Being  thus  favourably  received  by  the  Indian  inha- 
bitants, whose  affections  they  had  the  good  fortune  to 
conciliate  by  the  liberality  of  their  conduct,  they  were 
soon  enabled  to  purchase  extensive  tracts  on  the  most 
moderate  terms,  and  to  settle  their  lands  to  the  best 
advantage,  without  fear  of  molestation  from  the  origi- 
nal possessors. 

The  following  interesting  article,  '  The  Pilgrims  of 
Maryland,^  taken  from  the  ^Metropolitan  Catholic 
Almanac,^  for  the  year  1840,  is  here  given  for  the 
gratification  of  the  curious  antiquarian.  It  is  consi- 
dered not  to  be  out  of  place  here  to.  state  that  the 
general  assembly  of  Marjdand,  at  its  December  session 
of  1836,  made  a  liberal  appropriation  for  the  purpose 
of  procuring  from  Rome  a  transcript  of  the  JSTarrative  of 
Father  Andrew  Wfiite,  which  is  deemed  important  to 
the  elucidation  of  the  early  history  of  our  state ;  and 
that  the  services  of  a  distinguished  gentleman  of  the 
order  ofthe  Jesuits,  now  in  Rome,  are  kindly  promised 
to  obtain  it  for  the  library  of  the  state. 


16  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

THE    PILGRIMS    OF    MARYLAND. 

The  Student  of  American  history  must  ever  regret 
that  so  little  has  been  done  to  furnish  the  particulars  of 
the  first  settlement  and  early  transactions  of  Maryland, 
by  such  as  having  been  actors  in  those  scenes,  could 
have  supplied  the  loss  of  the  early  records,  destroyed 
in  Ingle  and  Claiborne's  rebellion,  about  ten  years 
after  the  landing  in  1634.  Had  Maryland  been  equally 
fortunate  with  her  sister  colonies,  in  the  possession  of 
her  early  records,  she  had  not  wanted  an  enlightened 
and  impartial  historian  to  present  to  the  world  the  en- 
terprizing  and  honourable  actions,  as  she  has  with  a 
masterly  pen  exhibited  the  just  and  liberal  principles 
which  distinguished  the  founders  of  this  province. 

Mr.  McMahon,  with  a  taste  and  industry  worthy  of 
his  genius,  has  culled  from  the  mouldering  and  ne- 
glected records  in  the  archives  of  the  state,  all  that 
they  possessed  of  interest  on  this  subject.  The  sub- 
sequent publication  by  the  State,  of  the  history  of 
Maryland  from  its  settlement  to  1660,  by  Bozman, 
exhibits  that  patient  and  laborious  scholar,  after  having 
devoted  years  of  toil  to  his  favourite  work,  unable  to 
elucidate  many  important  events,  or  to  pourtray  the 
characters  of  conspicuous  individuals,  for  the  want  of 
authentic  materials. 

A  gleam  of  hope  remains  that  among  the  letters  of 
the  missionaries  of  the  society  of  Jesus,  who  first 
preached  the  gospel  in  Maryland,  may  be  found  much 
interesting  matter  for  a  history  of  the  early  days  of  that 
state. 

Enlightened  scholars  of  every  nation  and  creed  have 
long  appreciated  those  charming  volumes,  Leiires  Edi- 


,  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  17 

jiantes  et  CurieuseSj  which  by  their  communications 
on  civil  and  natural  history,  geography,  astronomy, 
&c.  &c.  have  added  so  much  to  the  stores  of  learning, 
while  their  edifying  accounts  of  religion  have  delighted 
all  who  esteem  true  virtue  and  admire  the  heroism  of 
the  soldiers  of  Christ. 

A  young  American  clergyman,*  of  the  society  of 
Jesus,  while  pursuing  his  studies  at  Rome,  found  in 
the  archives  of  that  distinguished  body,  various  letters 
Siimilar  to  those  collected  in  Lettres  Edijiantes,  written 
by  Father  Andrew  White,  and  other  priests,  who  ac- 
companied the  first  settlers  of  Maryland.  He  brought 
with  him  copious  extracts  from  these  documents, 
which  having  been  accidently  seen  by  John  Bozman 
Kerr,  Esquire,  an  active  member  of  the  house  of  dele- 
gates in  this  state,  and  an  accomplished  scholar,  that 
gentleman  proposed  that  the  legislature  should  take 
measures  to  procure  all  the  information  on  the  early 
history  of  Maryland,  which  might  be  found  in  the 
archives  of  the  Jesuits.  A  resolution  was  adopted, 
which,  it  is  hoped,  will  result  in  producing  important 
materials  for  the  future  historian. 

The  following  abridgment  of  the  extracts  from  Fa- 
ther White,  contains  many  particulars,  which,  though 
not  of  great  importance,  are  interesting  to  the  curious, 
having  never  before  been  published.  His  descriptions 
of  various  countries  and  their  productions,  which  are 
very  particular  in  the  original,  are  in  most  cases  omit- 
ted here.  The  paper  from  which  these  extracts  were 
made,  is  in  Latin,  in  the  archives  of  the  society  of 
Jesus,  at  Rome.  It  appears  to  have  been  written  from 
the  city  of  St.  Mary's,  within  about  a  month  after  the 

•The  late  Rev.  William  McSherry. 

2* 


18  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

arrival  of  the  first  vessels,  probably  in  April,  1634. 
It  is  entitled, 

^A  Report  of  the  Colony  of  the  Lord  Baron  of  Balti- 
more, in  Maryland,   near    Virginia,  in  which  the 
quality,  nature  and  condition  of  the  country  and  its 
many  advantages  and  riches  are  described. 
'  There  is  a  province  near  the  English  colony  in  Vir- 
ginia, which,  in  honour  of  Maria  his  queen,  his  majesty 
the  king  of  England  wished  to  be  called  Maryland,  or 
the  land  of  Mary.' 

'This  province  his  majesty,  in  his  munificence,  pre- 
sented to  the  lord  Baron  of  Baltimore,  in  the  month  of 
June,  1632.  This  distinguished  nobleman  immediately 
resolved  to  settle  a  colony,  with  the  particular  intention 
of  establishing  the  religion  of  the  gospel  and  truth  in 
that  and  the  neighbouring  country,  where,  as  yet,  the 
knowledge  of  the  true  God  had  never  existed.  He 
was  encouraged  in  his  enterprize  by  the  favourable 
account  of  the  country  left  by  his  worthy  father,  whose 
testimony,  founded  upon  actual  observation,  was  worthy 
of  the  utmost  confidence,  and  was  corroborated  by  the 
reports  of  others  who  had  visited  the  same  region,  as 
well  as  by  the  published  narrative  of  captain  Smith, 
who  first  described  it.'  After  alluding  to  the  liberal 
conditions  of  settlement  proposed  by  Lord  Baltimore, 
Father  White  continues : 

'  The  interests  of  religion  constituted  one  of  the  first 
objects  of  Lord  Baltimore,  an  object  worthy  indeed  of 
christians,  of  angels,  of  Englishmen ;  than  which,  in 
all  her  ancient  victories,  Britain  never  achieved  any 
thing  more  honourable. 

'  Behold  those  regions  waiting  for  the  harvest.  They 
are  prepared  to  receive  the  fruitful  seed  of  the  gospel. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  19 

Messengers  have  been  sent  to  procure  suitable  persons 
to  preach  the  life-giving  doctrine,  and  regenerate  the 
natives  in  the  sacred  waters  of  baptism.  There  are 
those  now  living  in  this  city,  (St.  Mary's)  who  saw 
ambassadors  from  the  Indian  nations  to  Jamestown  in 
Virginia,  sent  there  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  these 
objects.  May  we  not  suppose  that  many  thousands 
were  brought  into  the  fold  of  Christ  in  so  glorious  a 
work.' 

After  a  glowing  and  minute  description  of  the  coun- 
try, with  its  trees,  fruits  and  other  productions,  its 
rivers  and  the  various  kinds  of  fish,  he  proceeds  ta 
give  the 

^NARRATIVE    OF    THE    VOYAGE   TO    MARYLAND. 

'On  the  22d  of  November,  being  St.  Csecilia's  day, 
under  the  gentle  influence  of  an  eastern  wind,  we 
dropped  down  from  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

'Having  placed  our  ship  under  the  protection  of  God, 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mother,  St.  Ignatius,  and  all  the 
guardian  angels  of  Maryland,  we  had  progressed  but 
a  short  distance,  when  we  were  obliged  for  the  want 
of  wind,  to  cast  anchor  off  the  fortress  of  Yarmouth, 
where  we  were  welcomed  by  a  salute.  While  lying 
here  we  were  not  without  some  apprehensions  from 
our  sailors,  who  began  to  murmur  among  themselves, 
alleging  that  they  expected  a  messenger  from  land  with 
letters:  and  because  none  arrived,  they  seem  disposed 
to  create  delays.  A  kind  providence  put  an  end  to  our 
fears ;  for  during  the  night  a  strong  but  favourable 
wind  sprang   up,   and    our  pinnace,*   which  appre- 

*  The  pinnace  appears  to  have  been  a  sloop  of  forty  tons,  and  was 
called 'The  Dove.' 


20  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

bended  an  attack  from  a  French  brig,  that  kept  within 
a  short  distance  of  her,  took  advantage  of  the  >yind 
and  put  to  sea.  We,  not  willing  to  lose  sight  of  her, 
followed  her  with  all  speed,  and  thus  frustrated  the  evil 
designs  of  our  sailors ;  this  was  on  the  night  of  St. 
Clement's  day,  23d  of  November.  On  the  next  morn- 
ing, about  10  o'clock,  after  receiving  a  second  salute 
from  the  fort  at  Hurst,  we  were  carried  beyond  the 
breakers  at  the  extremity  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and 
narrowly  escaped  being  driven  on  shore.  Taking  ad- 
vantage of  a  strong  fair  wind  on  that  day  and  the  next 
night,  we  left  the  western  point  of  England,  slacking 
sail,  lest  running  ahead  of  the  pinnace,  she-  might  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  pirates  and  Turks  who  then  in- 
fested these  seas.  On  the  24th  of  November,  we  made 
great  headway  until  evening,  when  a  violent  storm 
arose,  and  our  sloop  being  diffident  of  its  strength, 
being  only  of  40  tons  burden,  hove  to,  and  informed  us 
that  in  case  of  danger,  she  would  carry  lights  at  her 
mast-head.  We  were  in  a  well  built  ship*  of  400  tons, 
as  strong  as  iron  and  wood  could  make  her,  and  our 
captain  was  one  of  great  experience.  The  storm  was 
so  violent  that  we  gave  him  the  choice  of  returning  to 
England  or  pursuing  the  voyage.  His  intrepidity  and 
confidence  in  the  untried  powers  of  his  ship,  induced 
him  to  choose  the  latter.  But  in  the  middle  of  the 
night,  in  a  boiling  sea,  we  saw  our  sloop  at  a  short  dis- 
tance from  us,  showing  two  lights  at  her  mast-head. 
Then,  indeed,  did  we  fear  for  her,  and  on  losing  sight 
of  her  we  all  supposed  she  had  been  swallowed  up  in 
the  stormy  sea.  Six  weeks  elapsed  before  we  again 
heard  from  her.  But  God  had  preserved  her.  Fear- 
*  'The  Ark.' 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  21 

ing  that  she  could  not  survive  the  storm,  she  changed 
her  course,  and  took  refuge  in  the  Scilly  Isles.  She 
afterwards  sailed  in  pursuit  of  us,  and  we  met  at  the 
Antilles.  On  the  27th  and  28th,  we  made  but  little 
progress.  On  Friday  29th,  a  most  dreadful  storm 
arose,  that  made  the  most  fearless  men  tremble  for  the 
result.  Among  the  Catholics,  however,  it  made  prayer 
more  frequent,  vows  were  offered  in  honour  of  the  B.  V. 
Mother,  and  her  immaculate  conception,  of  St.  Igna- 
tius, the  patron  Saint  of  Maryland,  St.  Michael  and  all 
the  guardian  angels.  Each  one  prayed  earnestly  to 
expiate  his  sins  through  the  sacrament  of  penance.' 
For  having  unshipped  her  rudder,  our  vessel  was 
tossed  about  at  the  mercy  of  the  winds  and  waves. 
At  first,  I  feared  that  the  loss  of  our  ship  and  death 
awaited  me,  but  after  spending  some  time  in  prayer 
and  having  declared  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  to  his 
Holy  Mother,  St.  Ignatius,  and  the  protecting  Angels 
of  Maryland,  that  the  purpose  of  this  voyage  was  to 
pay  honour  to  the  blood  of  our  Redeemer,  by  the  con- 
version of  barbarians,  I  arose  with  a  firm  confidence 
that  through  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  God,  we 
should  escape  the  dangers  that  seemed  to  threaten  our 
destruction.  I  had  bowed  myself  down  in  prayer, 
during  the  greatest  rage  of  the  tempest,  and,  let  the 
true  God  be  glorified  !  Scarcely  had  I  finished,  before 
the  storm  was  ceasing. 

'I  felt  myself  imbued  with  a  new  spirit,  and  overspread 
with  a  flood  of  joy  and  admiration  at  the  benevolence 
of  God  to  the  people  of  Maryland,  to  whom  we  were 
sent.  Blessed  forever  be  the  merciful  charities  of  our 
dear  Redeemer-  The  remainder  of  the  voyage,  which 
lasted  three  months,  was  prosperous ;  our  captain  af- 


22  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

firmed  that  he  never  witnessed  a  more  pleasant  and 
happy  one.  yThe  period  of  three  months  included  the 
time  we  spent  at  the  islands  of  the  Antilles,  but  we 
were  in  fact  only  seven  weeks  and  two  days  at  sea. 

'In  sailing  along  the  Spanish  coasts  we  were  appre- 
hensive of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Turks,  but  we 
never  met  them.  Having  passed  the  pillars  of  Her- 
cules and  the  Madeira  islands,  we  were  able  to  scud 
before  the  wind  with  full  sail.  The  winds  are  not  va- 
riable in  those  regions,  but  always  blow  in  a  southwest 
direction,  which  was  our  exact  course.  At  the  dis- 
tance of  about  three  leagues  from  us  we  descried  three 
sail  of  vessels,  the  smallest  of  which  appeared  to  be 
larger  than  ours.  Fearing  they  were  Turkish  pirates 
we  were  careful  to  avoid  them,  though  we  prepared  our 
vessel  for  action.  But  as  they  showed  no  disposition 
to  engage  us,  we  concluded  they  were  merchantmen, 
bound  for  the  fortunate  islands,  and  as  much  afraid  of 
us  as  we  were  of  them.' 

Father  White,  after  some  philosophical  reasoning  to 
account  for  the  trade  winds,  some  interesting  descrip- 
tions of  the  tropical  birds,  and  the  flying  fish,  &c.  &c. 
seen  on  their  passage,  remarks  that,  'during  the  entire 
voyage  no  person  was  attacked  with  any  disease  ex- 
cept that  at  Christmas,  wine  having  been  freely  distri- 
buted in  honour  of  that  festival,  several  drank  of  it  im- 
moderately ;  thirty  persons  were  seized  with  a  fever  the 
next  morning,  of  whom  about  twelve  died  shortly  after ; 
of  these  two  were  Catholics,  namely,  Nicholas  Fairfax 
and  James  Barefoot.' 

The  route  taken  by  the  pilgrims  is  described  to  have 
been  by  the  Azores,  and  to  Barbadoes,  at  which  latter 
island  they  landed  on  the  5th  of  January,  1634,  new 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  23 

style.  Instead  of  the  hospitable  reception  which  they 
expected  from  the  governor  and  inhabitants,  who  were 
English,  Father  White  says,  'the  governor  and  inhabi- 
tants plotted  together  to  exact  unreasonable  prices  for 
provisions  and  other  necessary  supplies.'  From  the 
great  abundance  of  potatoes  in  the  island,  they  received 
a  wagon  load  gratis.  At  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  our 
pilgrims  the  slaves  had  rebelled,  and  determined  to- 
seize  the  first  vessel  that  should  arrive,  but  being  dis- 
covered, the  ringleaders  were  executed ;  and,  says  the 
narrator,  'our  vessel  being  the  first  that  touched  the 
shore,  was  the  destined  prize,  and  the  very  day  we 
landed  we  found  eighty  men  under  ariris,  to  check  the 
startling  danger.' 

After  describing  the  island  of  Barbadoes  and  its  pro- 
ductions, the  writer  says,  'on  the  night  of  the  24th  of 
January  we  weighed  anchor,  and  passing  the  island  of 
St.  Lucia  at  noon  on  the  following  day,  we  arrived  in 
the  evening  at  an  island  inhabited  by  savages  only.  A 
rumour  had  been  caught  by  our  sailors,  from  some 
Frenchmen  who  had  been  shipwrecked,  that  this  island 
contained  an  animal  in  whose  forehead  was  a  stone 
of  uncommon  brilliancy,  called  a  carbuncle.'  Father 
White  dryly  remarks,  'its  author  must  answer  for  the 
truth  of  this  report.'  At  dawn  on  the  following  day 
they  reached  Guadaloupe,  and  at  noon  arrived  at  Mont- 
serrat,  inhabited  by  Irishmen  driven  from  Virginia,  on 
account  of  their  profession  of  the  Catholic  faith. 

Thence  they  sailed  to  another  island,  where  they 
spent  one  day  ;  thence  to  St.  Christophers,  where  they 
remained  ten  days,  by  the  friendly  invitation  of  the 
English  governor  and  two  captains,  'who  were  Catho- 
lics.'    The  governor  of  a  French  colony  in  the  same 


24  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

island  also  welcomed  them  warmly.  Father  White 
continues  :  'having  at  length  weighed  anchor  hence, 
we  pursued  our  voyage  until  we  reached  a  point  on  the 
coast  of  Virginia,  called  'Comfort,'  on  the  27th  of  Feb- 
ruary. We  were  under  a  good  deal  of  dread  from  the 
unfriendliness  of  the  English  inhabitants  of  Virginia, 
to  whom  our  colony  had  been  an  unwelcome  theme. 
We  brought,  however,  letters  from  the  king  and  the 
high  constable  of  England  to  the  governor  of  the  pro- 
vince, which  contributed  very  much  to  appease  their 
feelings,  and  to  procure  us  future  advantages.  After 
receiving  kind  treatment  for  nine  or  ten  days  we  set 
sail,  and  on  the  3d  of  March,  having  arrived  in  the 
Chesapeake  bay,  we  tacked  to  the  north  to  reach  the 
Potomac  river,  to  which  we  gave  the  name  of  St.  Gre- 
gory. We  called  the  point  which  stands  on  the  south 
St.  Gregory,*  that  on  the  north  St.  Michaels,t  in  ho- 
nour of  the  choir  of  angels.  A  larger  and  more  beau- 
tiful stream  I  never  have  seen.  The  Thames  compar- 
ed with  it  is  but  a  rivulet.  Bounded  on  the  sides  by 
no  marshes,  it  runs  between  solid  and  rising  banks. 
On  either  side  are  splendid  forests,  not  overgrown  by 
weeds  or  briars  ;  you  might  drive  a  four-horse  carriage, 
with  the  reins  loose  in  your  hands,  through  them.  We 
found  the  natives  armed  at  the  very  mouth  of  the  river. 
That  night  fires  were  blazing  throughout  the  country, 
and  as  they  had  never  seen  so  large  a  ship  as  ours, 
messengers  were  sent  around  to  announce  the  arrival 
of  a  canoe  as  large  as  an  island,  and  numbering  as  many 
men  as  the  trees  in  a  forest.  We  passed  on  to  the 
Heron  Islands,  so  called  from  immense  flocks  of  those 
birds.      We  touched  at  the  first  of  them,  which  we 

•  Smith's  Point.  t  Point  Lookout. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  25 

called  St.  Clements,  on  which,  owing  to  its  sloping 
banks,  we  could  only  land  by  fording.  Here  the  maids 
who  had  landed  to  wash  the  clothes,  were  almost 
drowned  by  the  upsetting  of  the  boat.  I  lost  a  large 
portion  of  my  linen — no  small  loss  in  this  part  of  the 
world.  This  island  abounds  in  cedar  trees,  sassafras, 
and  all  those  herbs  and  flowers  entering  into  the  class 
of  salads,  and  the  walnut  tree  with  a  heavy  shell,  and  a 
small  but  very  delicious  kernel.  A  scope  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  did  not  appear  sufficient  for  our  new  plan- 
tation. We  desired  a  place  which  might  preclude  the 
commerce  of  the  river  to  strangers,  and  also  the  possi- 
bility of  their  infringing  on  our  boundaries.  This  was 
the  most  narrow  crossing  of  the  river.' 

'On  the  day  of  the  annunciation  of  the  B.  V.  Mary, 
(25th  of  March,)  we  first  offered  the  sacrifice  of  the 
mass,  never  before  done  in  this  region  of  the  world. 
After  which,  having  raised  on  our  shoulders  an  im- 
mense cross,  which  we  had  fashioned  from  a  tree,  and 
going  in  procession  to  the  designated  spot,  assisted  by 
the  governor,*  commissary,  and  other  Catholics,  we 
erected  the  trophy  of  Christ  the  Saviour,  and  humbly 
bent  the  knee  in  reverence  during  the  devout  recitation 
of  the  litany  of  the  holy  cross.  Our  governor,  how- 
ever, having  understood  that  the  great  chief  of  Pisca- 
taway  was  obeyed  by  many  petty  chiefs,  determined  to 
visit  him,  to  explain  the  objects  of  our  coming;  that 
having  conciliated  his  good  will,  our  settlement  might 
be  more  favourably  regarded  by  the  rest.  Having, 
therefore,  joined  to  our  pinnace  another,  which  he  had 
procured  in  Virginia,  and  leaving  the  ship  at  anchor  off 
St.  Clements,  retracing  his  course,  he  sailed  up  the 

*  Leonard  Calvert. 


36  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

southern  bank  of  the  river.  Finding  the  savages  hafl 
fled  into  the  interior,  he  proceeded  to  the  village,  which 
taking  its  name  from  the  river  is  yet  called  Potomac. 
Here  he  found  Archihu,  the  uncle  and  tutor  of  the  king, 
who  was  yet  a  boy.  The  regency  was  in  prudent  and 
experienced  hands.  Father  Altham,  who  accompa- 
nied the  governor,  (for  I  was  detained  with  the  bag- 
gage,) explained,  by  means  of  an  interpreter,  the  truths 
of  the  Christian  religion.  The  chief  listened  to  him 
willingly,  after  acknowledging  his  own  faults.  Being 
informed  that  no  hostile  motives  had  brought  us 
among  them,  but  that  feelings  of  benevolence  prompted 
us  to  impart  to  them  the  advantages  of  civilization,  and 
to  open  the  path  of  Heaven  to  them,  and  to  the  more 
distant  regions,  he  expressed  himself  not  only  well  sa- 
tisfied, but  very  grateful  at  our  arrival.  The  interpreter 
was  from  the  Protestants  of  Virginia.  As  the  Father 
could  not  explain  every  thing  at  once,  he  promised  to 
return  in  a  short  time.  'I  think,'  said  Archihu,  'that 
we  should  all  eat  of  the  same  table ;  my  young  men 
will  visit  the  hunting  grounds  for  you,  and  all  things 
shall  be  in  common  with  us.'  From  hence  we  went  to 
Piscataway,  where  all  immediately  flew  to  arms.  About 
one  hundred,  armed  with  bows,  were  drawn  up  with 
their  chief  at  their  head.  On  learning  our  pacific  in- 
tentions, laying  aside  his  fears,  the  chief  stepped  into 
the  pinnace,  and  on  understanding  our  benevolent  views 
in  their  regard,  gave  us  liberty  to  settle  in  any  part  of 
his  kingdom  we  might  select.  In  the  meantime,  while 
the  governor  was  on  his  journey  to  the  emperor,  the 
savages  at  St.  Clements  becoming  more  bold,  mixed 
familiarly  with  our  sentries.  We  were  accustomed  to 
keep  up  a  patrol  day  and  night,  to  protect  our  wood- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  27 

cutters,  and  our  vessel,  which  was  now  undergoing  re- 
pairs, from  any  sudden  attack.  The  natives  expressed' 
their  surprise  at  the  size  of  our  vessel,  and  wondered 
what  part  of  the  earth  produced  a  tree  large  enough  to 
make  such  a  boat ;  for  they  thought  that  it,  like  an  In- 
dian canoe,  was  hewn  out  of  the  trunk  of  a  single  tree. 
The  report  of  our  cannon  struck  them  dumb  with  fear.' 

'In  his  visit  to  the  emperor,  our  governor  carried 
with  him  as  a  companion,  one  Henry  Fleet,  a  captain 
among  the  settlers  in  Virginia,  a  man  much  beloved  by 
the  natives,  and  skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  their  lan^ 
guage  and  settlements.  In  the  beginning  he  was  very 
obliging  to  us,  but  being  seduced  by  the  malicious 
counsels  of  a  certain  Claiborne,  he  became  very  hos- 
tile, and  in  the  most  artful  manner  inflamed  the  minds 
of  the  natives  against  us.  However,  while  he  was  our 
friend,  he  pointed  out  to  our  governor  a  suitable  place 
for  a  settlement,  than  which  a  more  heavenly  and  lovely 
spot  Europe  could  not  furnish.  Having  proceeded  from 
St.  Clements  about  nine  leagues  to  the  north,  we  glided 
into  the  mouth  of  a  river,  to  w^hich  we  gave  the  name 
of  St.  George.*  This  river  flow^s  from  south  to  north 
about  twenty  miles  before  it  loses,  like  the  Thames,  the 
salt  water  taste.  In  its  mouth  are  two  harbours,  in 
which  three  hundred  ships  of  the  line  could  ride  at 
anchor.  We  placed  one  of  them  under  the  protection 
of  St.  George,  the  other,  more  interior,  under  that  of 
the  B.  V.  Mary.'t 

'On  the  left  side  of  the  river  was  the  settlement  of 
Yaocomico.     We  ascended  on  the  right  side,  and  hav- 

*  Now  called  St.  Mary's  liver, 

t  This  harbour  must  be  either  the  mouth  of  what  is  now  called  St. 
George's  river,  or  the  entrance  to  St.  Inigoe's  creek. 


28  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

ing  halted  about  a  thousand  paces  from  the  shore,  we 
selected  a  site  for  the  city,  to  be  designated  by  the 
name  of  St.  Mary.  And  to  avoid  all  imputation  of  in- 
jury and  occasion  of  enmity,  having  given  in  payment 
hatchets,  axes,  hoes,  and  some  yards  of  cloth,  we  bought 
from  the  king  about  thirty  miles  of  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try now  called  Augusta  Caroline.'* 

'A  fierce  and  warlike  nation  of  savages  called  the 
Susquehannahs,  particularly  hostile  to  king  Yaocomico, 
made  frequent  incursions  into  his  territory  and  devas- 
tated his  settlements.  The  inhabitants,  through  fear 
of  these  savages,  were  forced  to  seek  other  homes. 
This  was  the  cause  of  our  having  so  promptly  ob- 
tained possession  of  that  part  of  his  kingdom :  God, 
in  his  goodness,  opening  a  path  for  his  law  and  eternal 
light  by  these  means.  The  natives  emigrate  here  and 
there  daily,  leaving  behind  them  the  fields  and  clearings 
that  surrounded  their  homes.  It  amounts  almost  to  a 
miracle  that  savages,  who  but  a  few  days  before  array- 
ed themselves  in  arms  against  us,  should  now  with  the 
meekness  of  the  lamb  throw  themselves  on  our  mercy, 
and  deliver  up  every  thing  to  us.  Here  the  finger  of 
God  is  evident,  and  doubtless  Providence  has  some 
good  in  store  for  this  nation.  A  few  have  been  per- 
mitted to  retain  their  dwellings  for  one  year,  but  the 
lands  are  to  be  delivered  free  into  our  hands  the  next 
year.' 

*The  natives  are  tall  and  handsome  in  their  persons, 
their  skin  is  naturally  of  a  copper  colour,  but  they  daub 
it  over  with  red  paint  mixed  with  oil,  to  protect  them 
from  the  flies.f  This  practice,  which  is  decidedly  more 
of  a  convenience  than  an  ornament,  gives  them  a  hide- 

•  Now  St.  Mary's  county.  -f  Moschettoes. 


ANNALS   OF    ANNAPOLIS.  29 

ous  appearance.  They  daub  their  faces  with  other  co- 
lours, at  one  time  sky  blue,  at  another  red,  and  occa- 
sionally in  the  most  disgusting  and  terrific  manner. 
Being  deficient  in  beard,  at  least  until  late  in  life,  ^ey 
draw  painted  lines  from  the  corners  of  their  mouths  to 
the  ears,  in  imitation  of  it.  The  hair,  which  is  gene- 
rally black,  is  tied  around  with  a  fillet,  and  drawn  in 
a  knot  to  the  left  ear,  with  the  addition  of  any  ornament 
in  their  possession  which  they  consider  valuable.  Some 
wear  as  an  ornament  a  copper  plate  with  the  figure  of 
a  fish  engraved  upon  it,  placed  upon  the  forehead. 
Others  wear  necklaces  of  glass  beads ;  beads  are  es- 
teemed of  less  value  by  them,  and  do  not  answer  the 
purposes  of  traflSc  so  readily.  They  are  dressed  gene- 
rally in  deer  skins,  or  something  of  that  nature,  #hich 
hangs  from  the  back  in  the  fashion  of  a  pallium,  and  is 
bound  round  the  naval  like  an  apron  ;  the  rest  of  the 
body  is  naked.  Boys  and  girls  move  about  perfectly 
uncovered ;  they  tread  on  thorns  and  thistles,  without 
sustaining  injury,  as  if  the  soles  of  their  feet  were  horn. 
Their  arms  are  the  bow  and  arrow,  two  cubits  long, 
pointed  with  a  piece  of  buckhorn,  or  sharp  edged  flint. 
They  shoot  these  with  such  dexterity,  as  to  transfix  a 
spanow  at  a  considerable  distance.  Their  bows  are 
not  very  tightly  strung,  and  they  are  unable  to  strike 
objects  at  a  very  great  distance.  By  the  use  of  these 
arms,  however,  they  secure  a  suflBcient  quantity  of  food, 
as  squirrels,  partridges,  turkeys,  &c.  of  which  there  is 
a  great  abundance.  They  live  in  huts  of  an  oblong  and 
oval  form,  nine  or  ten  feet  high ;  ,an  opening  of  a  foot 
and  a  half  in  size,  through  the  roof,  admits  light  and 
allows  the  smoke  to  .escape.     They  construct  a  fire  on 

a  pavement  in  the  centre,  and  sleep  in  a  circle  around 
3* 


30  ^  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

it.  The  kings  and  principal  chiefs  have  each  a  hut  of 
his  own,  and  a  bed  made  by  driving  four  stakes  in  the 
ground  and  laying  poles  over  them.  A  tent  of  this  de- 
scilj^tion  is  allotted  to  my  companion  and  myself,  in 
which  we  are  comfortably  enough  accommodated  until 
a  better  house  can  be  erected.  This  may  he  considered 
tlie first  chapel  in  Maryland;  it  is,  however,  furnished 
in  a  more  becoming  manner  than  when  it  was  inhabited 
by  the  Indians.  In  our  next  voyage,  should  Provi- 
dence smile  on  our  undertaking,  we  shall  be  supplied 
with  all  that  is  necessary  for  furnishing  houses  gene- 
rally. The  disposition  of  the  tribe  is  sprightly  and  in- 
genious;  their  taste  is  very  discriminating,  and  they 
excel  the  Europeans  in  the  senses  of  sight  and  smell. 
Theff  food  consists  of  certain  preparations  of  corn, 
which  they  call  fone  and  ominy^  to  which  is  added  fish 
and  any  thing  that  they  have  caught  in  hunting  or  in 
their  snares.  They  have  neither  wine  nor  spirits,  nor  can 
they  be  easily  induced  to  taste  them,  except  such  as 
the  English  have  infected  with  their  vices.  As  to  their 
deportment,  it  is  extremely  modest  and  proper.  In 
neither  male  nor  female  have  I  seen  any  action  con- 
trary to  chastity.  They  come  voluntarily  and  mingle 
with  us  daily,  offering  us,  with  a  joyful  countenance, 
what  they  have  caught  in  hunting  or  fishing,  and  par- 
taking of  our  food  with  us,  when  invited  by  a  few 
words  in  their  own  language.  As  yet  we  are  able  to 
converse  with  them  very  little  except  by  signs.  Many 
of  them  have  wives,  and  preserve  their  conjugal  faith 
unsullied.  The  countenances  of  the  women  are  sedate 
and  modest.  The  natives  seem  possessed  of  most  ge- 
nerous dispositions,  and  reciprocate  liberally  any  acts 
of  kindness.     They  decide  on  nothing  rashly,  nor  are 


4. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  *         31 

they  affected  by  any  sudden  impulse  of  feeling;  but 
•when  any  thing  of  importance  is  submitted  to  their 
consideration,  they  reflect  on  it  in  silence,  as  if  anxious 
to  be  governed  entirely  by  reason  ;  then  having  formed 
their  determination,  they  express  it  briefly,  and  adhere 
to  it  most  obstinately.  If  they  were  once  imbued  with 
the  principles  of  Christianity  (for  which  indeed  nothing 
seems  to  be  wanting  but  a  knowledge  of  their  language) 
they  would  certainly  become  examples  of  every  moral 
and  Christian  virtue.'  ^^.    Vj 

'They  are  much  pleased  with  the  courteous  language, 
as  well  as  the  dress  of  the  Europeans,  and  would  now 
be  clothed  in  our  manner,  if  the  avarice  of  our  traders 
did  not  prevent  it.  Our  ignorance  of  their  idioms  h^s 
hitherto  prevented  us  from  learning  accurately  their 
opinions  on  religion.  We  have,  however,  through  the 
aid  of  interpreters,  (not  always  to  be  relied  on,)  caught 
these  particulars :  They  acknowledge  one  God  of 
heaven,  whom  they  call  our  God.  They  pay  him  no 
external  honours,  but  endeavour  in  various  ways,  to 
propitiate  a  certain  evil  spirit  whom  they  call  OchrCy 
that  he  may  not  injure  them.  I  understand  they  wor- 
fliip  also  grain  and  fire,  as  deities  very  benevolent  to 
mankind.  Some  of  our  men  say  they  saw  the  follow- 
ing ceremony  in  the  temple  Barcluxen.  On  a  certain 
day,  all  the  men  and  women  of  all  ages,  from  many 
villages,  assemble  around  a  large  fire ;  the  younger 
ones  are  in  advance,  nearer  the  fire ;  then  having 
thrown  some  deer's  fat  on  the  fire,  they  raise  their 
hands  aloft  and  cry  out  with  a  loud  voice,  'Taho ! 
Taho!'  During  an  interval,  some  one  holds  out  a 
large  bag,  which  contains  a  pipe,  similar  to  those  we 
use   for  smoking  tobacco,  though  much  larger,  and 


\ 


% 


32  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 


some  powder  which  they  call  potu.  The  bag  is  then 
carried  around  the  fire,  followed  by  boys  and  girls 
singing  alternately  in  an  agreeable  voice,  ^Tahoy  TahoJ* 
The  circuit  being  finished,  the  pipe  and  the  powder 
are  drawn  out  of  the  bag.  The  potu  being  distributed 
to  each  one  standing  around,  and  lighted  in  the  pipe, 
each  person  present  smokes  it,  and  consecrates  every 
member  of  the  body  by  blowing  it  over  them.  .  We 
are  not  yet  in  possession  of  other  facts,  except  that 
they  seem  to  have  some  knowledge  of  a  flood  in 
which  the  world  was  destroyed,  on  account  of  the  sins 
of  mankind.' 

*We  have  been  but  one  month  here :  the  remainder 
iflust  consequently  be  reserved  for  another  voyage.  I 
can,  however,  assert  that  the  soil  is  especially  rich. 
The  earth,  soft  and  black  to  the  depth  of  a  foot,  is 
overspread  with  a  fat  and  reddish  coloured  clay,  co- 
vered every  where  with  widely  spreading  trees,  of 
great  value  and  surpassing  beauty,  except  here  and 
there  a  small  patch  of  cultivated  ground.  The  land  is 
also  refreshed  by  abundant  springs  of  excellent  drink- 
ing water.  The  only  quadrupeds  we  have  seen,  are 
the  deer,  beaver,  and  squirrels  which  equal  in  size  the 
European  rabbit.  The  flocks  of  birds  are  innumera- 
ble, such  as  eagles,  herons,  swans,  geese,  ducks  and 
partridges.  Hence,  you  may  suppose  there  is  nothing 
wanting  here  which  may  minister  to  the  necessities  or 
the  pleasure  of  its  inhabitants.' 

The  town  of  Saint  Mary's  became  the  capital  of  the 
province ;  and  the  first  legislative  assembly  of  the  pro- 
vince was  called  and  held  there,  about  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year  1635— (to  wit,  on  the  26th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1634-5,  old  style.) 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  33 

Having  stated  these  preliminary  facts  of  the  settle- 
ment of  St.  Mary's,  and  not  intending  to  connect  the 
history  of  the  province  with  the  'Annals  of  Annapolis,' 
further  than  what  may  appear  to  be  necessary,  we  will 
now  turn  to  some  of  the  causes  which  eventuated  in 
the  settlement  of  the  present  capital  of  the  state. 
_  -  .  jj  In  this  year,  the  assembly  of  the  province  of 
Virginia,  passed  an  act  to  prevent  dissenting 
ministers  from  preaching  and  propagating  their  doc- 
trines in  that  colony.  Under  this  act,  the  governor 
and  council  of  Virginia  issued  an  order  that  all  such 
persons  as  would  not  conform  to  the  discipline  of  the 
church  of  England,  should  depart  the  country  by  a 
certain  day. 

Notwithstanding  the  laws  against  the  puritans  in 
Virginia,  they  continued  to  keep  up  a  conventicle  of 
their  members  for  some  years,  which  had  in  the  year 
1648,  increased  to  one  hundred  and  eighteen  members. 
-J  .J,  At  this  period  the  government  of  that  colony 
caused  a  more  vigorous  execution  of  the  laws  to 
be  enforced  against  them. 

Their  conventicle  in  Virginia  was  therefore  broken 
up,  and  the  members  of  it  being  driven  out  of  that 
colony,  were  dispersed  in  different  directions.  The 
pastor  (a  Mr.  Harrison)  went  from  thence  to  Bos- 
ton, in  New  England,  in  the  latter  end  of  this 
year — and  the  elder  (a  Mr.  Durand)  took  refuge  in 
Maryland. 

This  is  stated  by  one  of  their  own  members, 

to  have  taken  place  in  the  year  1649,  but  at 

what  time  of  the  year,  we  are  no  where  informed. 

Most  probably  they  did  not  leave  Virginia  in  a  body, 

but  gradually  in  small  numbers,  in  the  cpurse  of  the 


34  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.. 

spring  and  summer  of  this  year.  It  is  stated  by  Mr. 
Leonard  Strong,  in  his  '■Babylon's  Fall,''  &c.  that  they 
were  not  invited  into  Maryland  by  governor  Stone ; 
but  by  a  friend  of  the  governor's,  that  they  were  only 
'  received  and  protected.'  These  people  seated  them- 
selves at  a  place  by  them  called  '■Providence,^  but 
afterwards  ^Proctors,''  or  '■The  Town  Land  at  Severn.^ 
Later  still,  ^The  Town  at  Proctors;^  then  ^The  Town 
Land  at  Severn  where  the  town  was  formerly.^  After 
that,  ^Jinne- Arundel  Town,"*  which  was  subsequently 
changed  into  ^The  Port  of  Annapolis.^  And  finally, 
under  its  charter  in  1708,  was  established  as  the  'City 
of  Annapolis,''  as  will  be  shewn  hereafter  in  its  proper 
chronological  order. 

It  is  alleged  by  the  advocate  of  the  puritans  who 
thus  settled  at  Providence,  (Leonard  Strong,  before  re- 
cited,) that  'an  oath  to  the  Lord  Baltimore  was  urged 
upon  this  people  soon  after  their  arrival,  which  if  they 
did  not  take,  they  must  have  no  land,  nor  abiding  in  the 
province.'  The  oath  here  alluded  to  was  the  oath  of 
fidelity,  as  prescribed  by  his  lordship,  and  annexed  to 
his  'Condition  of  Plantations,'  of  1648. 

They  were  made  acquainted  by  captain  Stone  be- 
fore they  came  here,  with  that  oath  of  fidelity,  which 
was  to  be  taken  by  those  who  would  hold  any  land 
here  from  his  lordship ;  'nor  had  they  any  objection  to 
the  oath,  till  they  were  as  much  refreshed  with  their 
entertainment  there,  as  the  snake  in  the  fable  was  with 
the  countryman's  beast ;  for  which  some  of  them  were 
equally  thankful.  But  it  was  deemed  by  some  of  these 
people,  too  much  below  them  to  take  an  oath  to  the 
Lord  Proprietary  of  that  province,  though  many  pro- 
testants  of  much  better  quality,  had  taken  it.' 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  35 

Although  these  people  had  thus  with  the  permission 
of  the  Lord  Proprietary's  government,  seated  them- 
selves within  the  province  of  Maryland,  yet  it  does  not 
appear  that  they  had  immediately  thereon  subjected 
themselves  to  the  proprietary  government  at  St. 
Mary's. 

The  peninsula  or  neck  of  land  whereon  Anna- 
polis stands,  was  probably  uninhabited  by  any  Euro- 
peans before  their  arrival ;  and,  thus  secluded  from  the 
rest  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  province,  it  is  probable 
that,  according  to  the  usage  of  the  congregational 
church  of  New  England,  a  branch  of  which  church 
they  were,  a  sort  of  hierarchical  government  was  esta- 
blished by  them,  similar  to  that  which  had  been  prac- 
tised by  the  first  colonies  of  Plymouth,  Massachusetts, 
and  Conne/3ticut. 

Neither  does  it  appear  that  any  grants  of  land  or  ter- 
ritory were  made  to  these  people,  either  collectively  or 
individually,  either  prior  to  or  subsequent  to  their  arri- 
val in  Maryland,  until  the  latter  end  of  July,  1650, 
when  their  settlement  was  organized  as  a  county, 
under  a  commander  and  commissioners  of  the  peace, 
as  the  Isle  of  Kent  had  been  before. 

In  this  year,  (1649)  when  Charles  the  First  was  be- 
headed, Mr.  Thomas  Greene,  who  was  now  governor 
of  Maryland,  in  the  absence  of  governor  Stone,  caused 
the  Prince  of  Wales  to  be  proclaimed  in  the  province, 
as  'the  undoubted  rightful  heir  to  all  his  father's  domi- 
nions,' on  the  fifteenth  day  of  November  of  this  year. 

Another  proclamation  was  also  issued  of  the  same 
date,  'to  further  the  common  rejoicing  of  the  inhabi- 
tants upon  that  occasion,'  declaring  a  general  pardon 
to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  province,  for  every  offence 
before  committed. 


86  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

It  appears,  however,  that  the  puritans  who  had  just 
settled  on  the  Severn,  did  not  join  in  the  'common 
rejoicing ;'  but  preferring  the  rule  and  dominion  of  the 
commonwealth  of  England,  just  established  in  the 
mother  country,  to  that  of  the  declared  succession  of 
their  late  sovereign,  Charles  the  First,  desired  to  be 
exempt  from  the  common  privilege  of  causing  the 
shores  of  their  beautiful  Severn  to  re-echo  with  their 
^rejoicings'  on  this  occasion. 

In  January  of  this  year,  governor  Stone  having 
returned  to  the  province  and  resumed  the  func- 
tions of  his  office,  convened  the  legislature  by  procla- 
mation, to  meet  at  St.  Mary's  on  the  second  day  of 
April  ensuing. 

On  the  day  appointed  the  assembly  accordingly  con- 
vened— but  as  no  returns  were  made,  nor  any  appear- 
ance of  the  freemen  or  burgesses,  from  Providence, 
'the  governor  adjourned  the  house  till  Friday  next,  the 
fifth  day  of  the  same  present  month.' 

In  the  meantime  it  appears  that  governor  Stone 
visited  the  new  colony  at  Providence ;  probably  with 
a  view  of  reconciling  in  an  amicable  way  the  refrac- 
tory puritans  to  the  proprietary  government.  For  it 
seems  that  they  consented  to  send  two  burgesses  to  the 
assembly,  and  the  governor  himself  made  the  return 
thereof  as  follows  : 

'By  the  lieutenant,  &c.  of  Maryland.  The  freemen 
of  that  part  of  Maryland,  now  called  Providence,  being 
by  my  appointment  duly  summoned  to  this  present  as- 
sembly, did  unanimously  make  choice  of  Mr.  Pudding- 
ton  and  Mr.  James  Cox  for  their  burgesses,  I  being 
there  in  person  at  that  time.' 

Accordingly,  on  the  6th  of  April  the  assembly  met, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  37 

and  after  choosing  Mr.  James  Cox  speaker,  and  Mr. 
William  Britton  their  clerk,  proceeded  to  business. 
We  may  remark  here,  that  this  choice  of  the  speaker 
seems  to  indicate  the  growing  strength  and  influence 
of  the  infant  colony  that  had  settled  at  Providence. 

The  puritans  who  had  founded  Providence,  formed, 
at  this  early  period  of  their  settlement,  a  considerable 
population.  And  having  sent,  and  been  represented 
by  their  burgesses  or  delegates  at  this  last  assembly, 
and  so  far  submitting  to  the  proprietary  government,  an 
act  was  passed  at  this  session,  entitled,  'an  act  for  the 
creating  of  Providence  into  a  county,  by  the  name  of 
Anne  Arundel  County.^  The  tenor  of  this  act  was, 
'that  part  of  the  province  of  Maryland,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  bay  of  Chesapeake,  over  against  the  Isle  of 
Kent,  formerly  called  by  the  name  of  Providence,  by 
the  inhabitants  there  residing,  &c.  shall  from  hence- 
forth be  erected  into  a  shire  or  county,  by  the  name  of 
Anne  Arundel  county,  and  by  that  name  be  ever  here- 
after called.' 

It  was  probably  so  called  from  the  maiden  name  of 
Lady  Baltimore,  then  late  deceased — Lady  Anne  Arun- 
del, the  daughter  of  Lord  Arundel  of  Wardour,  whom 
Cecilius  Lord  Baltimore  had  married. 

No  boundaries  were  assigned  by  this  act  to  the 
county.  As  the  population  of  that  part  of  the  pro- 
vince was  detached  from  the  other  inhabited  parts,  and 
like  Kent  Island j  was  insulated  from  the  rest  of  the 
province,  such  population  constituted  its  limits  in  fact, 
until  in  process  of  time  other  counties  being  erected 
adjacent  thereto,  defined  its  boundaries. 

This  detached  colony  had  its   inconveniences   and 
difficulties  to  contend  with,  incident  to  all  newly-set- 
4 


38  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

tied  places.  It  became  thereby  not  only  more  ob- 
noxious to  the  Indians,  but  more  liable  to  alarm,  and 
more  easily  assailed  by  these  aborigines. 

Some  acts  of  assembly,  made  at  the  last  session  of 
assembly,  indicated  considerable  uneasiness  existing 
at  this  period  among  the  colonists,  on  account  of 
some  recent  murders  and  captures  committed  upon 
them  by  the  natives.  It  appears  that  two  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  Kent  and  Anne  Arundel  counties  had  been 
lately  murdered  in  a  most  cruel  and  barbarous  manner 
by  certain  Indians. 

It  is  most  probable,  that  the  Indians  who  committed 
the  above-mentioned  murders,  were  the  Susquehanocks, 
a  powerful  and  warlike  tribe,  who  inhabited  all  that 
part  of  Maryland  which  lies  between  the  Patuxent  and 
Susquehanough  rivers,  on  the  western  shore,  and  all 
that  portion  of  country  from  the  Choptank  to  the  Sus- 
quehanough,  on  the  Eastern  Shore. 

This  assembly,  in  addition  to  this  cautionary  mea- 
sure of  preventing  a  repetition  of  such  murders  by  the 
Indians,  thought  it  necessary  that  some  more  effectual 
remedy  to  check  such  conduct  of  the  natives,  should 
be  applied,  and  accordingly  enacted,  'an  order  pro- 
viding for  a  march  upon  the  Indians,'  as  follows : 
*Whereas,  certain  Indians,  this  last  year,  have  most 
wickedly  and  barbarously  murthered  an  English  inha- 
bitant of  the  county  of  Kent,  and  another  inhabitant 
likewise  since,  in  Anne  Arundel  county.  Be  it  therefore 
ordered,  That  the  governor,  with  the  advice  of  the" 
council,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  shall  have  power, 
in  case  such  Indians,  who  have  committed  such  bar- 
barous and  wicked  murthers,  shall  not  be  sent  in,  after 
demand  made  of  them,  to  the  government  here,  to  re- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  39 

ceive  such  punishment  as  is  due  for  such  offence,  to 
press  men,  and  to  appoint  such  allowance  for  their  pay, 
and  to  make  war  upon  these  nations  of  Indians  refusing 
to  deliver  up  those  offenders  as  aforesaid,  as  in  his  and 
their  best  discretion,  shall  be  thought  fit ;  the  charge  of 
which  war  to  be  laid  by  an  equal  assessment  on  the 
persons  and  estates  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  this 
provinq^' 

It  would  appear,  however,  notwithstanding  all  this 
preparation  for  an  Indian  war,  that  a  considerable  trade 
was  still  carried  on,  either  with  these  hostile  Indians, 
or  more  probably  with  some  other  tribe  or  tribes,  who 
remained  in  a  state  of  peace  with  our  colonists. 


i»  •• 


40  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 


CHAPTER   II. 

Tranquility  of  the  Province — Governor  Stone  visits  Providence— Ap- 
points Mr.  Edward  Lloyd  commander  of  Anne  Arundel  county — 
Appoints  Commissioners — The  Puritans  at  Providence  again  re- 
fuse to  send  Delegates  to  the  Assembly — Bennett  and  Claiborne 
reduce  the  Colony  of  Maryland — Governor  Stone  retained  in  office 
by  them — Is  soon  deprived  of  his  office  by  them — The  Colony  sub- 
mits to  the  Commonwealth  of  England— Governor  Won&  rein- 
stated—Cromwell proclaimed  in  the  Province — Governor  Stone 
declares  the  Puritans  at  Providence  to  be  enemies  of  Lord  Balti- 
more— The  Province  again  reduced — Governor  Stone  rebuked  by 
Lord  Baltimore  for  resigning  his  Government — Governor  Stone 
.  re-assumes  his  office  and  prwers  as  Governor — Organizes  a  Military 
Force — Seizes  the  Provinpial  Records — Secures  the  Arms  and 
Ammunition  of  the  Province — Governor  Stone  makes  prepara- 
tions to  reduce  Anne  Arundel  to  submission,  and  marches  towards 
the  Severn — Arrives  at  Herring  Creek — Appears  in  the  River 
Severn — The  Golden  Lion — Governor  Stone's  party  land  on  Horn 
Point — Captain  Fuller,  at  the  head  of  the  Puritans  of  Providence, 
marches  to  meet  them — Battle  on  Horn  Point — Governor  Stone 
condemned  to  Death — The  Soldiers  refuse  to- execute  him — Others 
executed — The  Property  of  Governor  Stone  and  his  party  seques- 
tered— Lord  Baltimore  restored  to  his  Rights  by  the  Lord  Protec- 
tor— Appoints  captain  Josiah  Fendall  Governor — The  Puritans  ac- 
knowledge the  authority  of  Lord  Baltimore — Acknowledgement. 

After  this  last  session  of  assembly,  the  affairs  of 
the  province  seem  to  have  subsided  into  apparent 
peace  and  quiet.  The  puritans  of  Providence  appear 
to  have  acquiesced  in,  and  submitted  to  the  proprie- 
tary government  at  St.  Mary's. 

In  July  of  this  year,  governor  Stone  visited  the  set- 
tlement at  Providence  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  it 
into  a  county ;  and  while  there,  he  issued  a  commis- 
sion directed^to  Mr.  Edward  Lloyd,  gent.'  ^pointing 
him  'to  be  commander  of  Anne  Arundel  county  until  the 
Lord  Proprietary  should  signify  to  the  contrary,'  and  to 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  41 

Mr.  James  Homewood,  Mr.  Thomas  Meares,  Mr. 
Thomas  Marsh,  Mr.  George  Puddington,  Mr.  Mathew 
Hawkins,  Mr.  James  Merryman,  and  Mr.  Henry  Cat- 
lyn,  *to  be  commissioners  of  the  said  county,  with  Mr. 
Edward  Lloyd,  for  granting  warrants  and  commissions, 
and  for  all  other  matters  of  judicature,'  &c. 

This  commission  bears  date  on  the  30th  of  July, 
1650,  at  Providence. 

Mr.  Puddington  had  been  one  of  the  Delegates  at 
the  last  session  of  assembly. 

The  names  of  these  gentlemen,  thus  commissioned, 
are  given  principally  with  a  view  of  gratifying  the 
reader,  who  may  be  a  native  of  Maryland,  that  he  may 
know  the  names  of  those  who  were  the  principal 
men  among  the  puritans  who  first  settled  on  the 
Severn,  and  from  whom  many  respectable  families  in 
this  state  now  deduce  their  descent. 

Governor  Stone,  it  seems,  agreeably  to  annual 
usage,  had  called  an  assembly,  to  meet  at  St. 
Mary's,  in  March  of  this  year.  But  from  strong  cir- 
cumstances, it  is  to  be  inferred  that  the  puritans  of 
Providence  (or  Anne  Arundel)  refused  or  neglected  to 
send  any  delegates  or  members  to  attend  this  assem- 
bly ;  and  Mr.  Lloyd,  as  it  appears,  acting  most  proba- 
bly in  conformity  to  the  wishes  of  those  over  whom  he 
presided  as  commander,  returned  some  message  'to  the 
general  assembly  then  sitting  at  St.  Mary's,'  which 
gave  considerable  displeasure  to  the  government  there, 
or  at  least  to  Lord  Baltimore,  in  England,  when  he 
came  to  be  informed  of  it,  who  expressed  his  resent- 
ment at  the  message  somewhat  warmly  iif  a  letter  to 
the  assembly. 

What  this  message  was,  is  not  now  to  be  exactly 
4* 


42  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

ascertained,  no  copy  of  it  remaining  on  record.  We 
are  authorized,  however,  in  collecting  from  what  his 
lordship  wrote  upon  the  subject,  that  the  purport  of 
Mr.  Lloyd's  message  was,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Anne 
Arundel  county,  which  they  themselves  called  Provi- 
dence, had  come  to  the  resolution  of  not  sending  any 
burgesses  or  delegates  to  the  general  assembly  at  St. 
Mary's,  notwithstanding  the  summons  for  that  purpose. 

This  stand  was,  without  doubt,  taken  with  a  view  to 
the  expected  dissolution  of  the  proprietary  government, 
and  Ait'as  probably  meant  by  them  as  a  prompt  mani- 
festation of  their  willingness  and  desire,  that  Maryland 
should  be  reduced  to  the  obedience  of  the  common- 
wealth of  England. 

As  soon  as  the  triumph  of  the  commonwealth 
cause  was  consummated  by  the  death  of  the 
king,  and  the  results  which  followed  it  in  the  mother 
country,  the  Parliament  directed  its  attention  to  the 
subjugation  of  the  American  colonies  which  had  been 
disaffected  to  that  cause. 

Governor  Stone,  having  contended  against  the  au- 
thority assumed  by  Bennett  and  Claiborne,  commis- 
sioners appointed  by  the  parliament  for  the  reduction 
of  the  province  of  Maryland,  but  finding  any  oppo- 
sition useless,  at  length  effected  an  arrangement  with 
the  commissioners ;  by  which  he  was  permitted  to 
retain  and  exercise  his  official  powers,  which  appear 
to  have  been  administered  with  fidelity  to  the  com- 
monwealth. Yet,  notwithstanding  these  acts  of  sub- 
mission, and  professions  of  allegiance,  he  was  soon 
after  charged  by  the  commissioners  above  named, 
with   disaffection   to   the   protector's   cause. 

They  demanded  of  governor  Stone  the  Lord  Balti- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  43 

more's  commission  to  him,  which  he  showed  them ;  thus 
getting  the  commission  in  their  hands,  they  detained  it, 
and  removed  him  and  his  lordship's  other  officers  out  of 
their  employment  in  the  province  under  him,  and  ap- 
pointed others  to  manage  the  government  of  Maryland, 
independent  of  his  lordship. 

Thus  was  the  province  of  Maryland  completely  re- 
duced to  obedience  to  the  parliament  of  the  common- 
wealth of  England,  and  all  authority  and  power  of 
the  Lord  Baltimore  within  the  colony  which  he  had 
planted  at  so  much  cost,  and  reared  with  so  much  care, 
entirely  taken  out  of  his  hands,  with  the  probable  pros- 
pect, that  it  would  never  again  be  restored  to  him. 

After  the  commissioners  had  made  a  temporary  set- 
tlement of  the  government  in  Maryland,  they  returned 
to  Virginia,  of  which  province  Bennett  was  made  the 
governor,  and  Claiborne  the  secretary  of  state. 

Bennett  and  Claiborne  having  thus  provided  for 
themselves  honorable,  and  perhaps  profitable  stations 
in  Virginia,  returned  to  Maryland  about  the  latter 
end  of  June,  to  make  a  more  satisfactory  settlement 
of  the  government  of  that  province  also.  Finding 
that  governor  Stone  had  acquired,  by  his  highly  cor- 
rect conduct  in  his  office,  great  popularity  with  the  in- 
habitants of  the  province,  and  moreover  that  it  was  the 
manifest  'desire  of  the  inhabitants,  that  governor  Stone 
should  re-assume  his  former  place  of  governor ;'  ar- 
rangements were  accordingly  made,  and  he  was  rein- 
stated by  proclamation  of  the  commissioners,  bearing 
date  the  28th  of  June,  1652. 

Contrary  to  the  common  usage  of  the  colonial 

trade  to  the  Chesapeake,  'no  English  shipping,* 

it  seems,  had  arrived  within  the  province  of  Maryland 


44  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS. 

(luring  the  spring  and  summer  of  this  year.  Conse- 
quently, as  governor  Stone  states,  he  had  received  no 
instructions  or  intelligence  to  direct  him  in  the  govern- 
ment of  the  province,  no  act  by  the  colonial  govern- 
ment was  passed,  directly  affecting  the  interests  of  the 
settlement  at  Providence. 

In   1654,    receiving  certain    intelligence  of 
Cromwell's  elevation  to  the   protectorate,    go- 
vernor Stone  recognized  and  proclaimed  him  as  pro- 
tector, on  the  6th  day  of  June,  in  this  year. 

This  same  year,  governor  Stone,  by  proclamation, 
charged  the  commissioners,  Bennett  and  Claiborne, 
and  indeed  the  whole  puritanic  party  mostly  of  Anne 
Arundel,  with  'drawing  away  the  people,  and  leading 
them  into  faction,  sedition  and  rebellion  against  the 
Lord  Baltimore.' 

Induced  by  this  proclamation,  the  commissioners 
again  returned  to  Maryland,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
the  puritans  at  Providence,  by  force  of  arms,  turned  out 
governor  Stone  and  the  Lord  Baltimore's  other  officers, 
and  put  others  in  their  places. 

After  a  short  resistance,  governor  Stone,  in  July  of 
this  year,  again  submitted  to  the  authority  of  the  com- 
missioners' government. 

«_        Early  in  1655,  it  appears  that  governor  Stone 
received  written  instructions  from  Lord  Balti- 
more, in  which  he  blames  him  for  '  resigning  up  his 
government  into  the  hands  of  the  lord  protector  and 
commonwealth  of  England,  without  striking  one  stroke.' 

Being  thus  instigated  by  the  Lord  Proprietary,  to 
attempt  the  recovery  of  the  proprietary  government, 
he  now  re-assumed  his  office  of  governor  under  bis 
former  commission. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  45 

After  such  a  rebuke  from  his  lordship,  governor 
Stone  determined  to  resist  the  authority  set  up  by 
the  commissioners;  and  to  make  one  more  struggle 
for  that  power  and  authority  which  he  had  held  from, 
and  exercised  under  the  Lord  Proprietary's  commission. 

In  virtue  of  his  official  authority,  he  proceeded 
to  issue  military  commissions  to  officers,  and  to  or- 
ganize an  armed  force  in  the  county  of  St.  Mary's, 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of  the  govern- 
ment. 

Of  these  he  despatched  a  party  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Richard  Preston,  situated  on  the  river  Patuxent, 
where  the  provincial  records  had  been  deposited  on 
the  revolution  in  July  last,  and  caused  them  to  be  seized 
and  brought  to  St.  Mary's.  On  the  information  of 
this  seizure  of  the  records  arriving  at  Providence,  (now 
Annapolis,)  captain  Fuller  and  his  council,  in  whom 
the  government  of  the  province  had  been  invested, 
sent  two  messengers  with  letters  to  governor  Stone,  '  in 
a  way  of  peace  and  love,'  desiring  him  to  make  it 
known  by  what  power  he  surprised  the  records,  and 
desiring  an  answer  thereto.  Governor  Stone  returned 
only  a  verbal  answer — that  '  he  would  shew  no  power, 
but  affirmed  that  he  acted  by  a  power  from  Lord  Balti- 
more ;  and  that  the  Lord  Protector  had  confirmed  the 
Lord  Baltimore's  power.'  The  messengers  were  there- 
upon dismissed  and  went  home. 

Soon  after  this,  governor  Stone  issued  a  proclama- 
tion for  the  purpose,  it  would  appear,  of  quieting  the 
minds  of  the  people  of  Patuxent,  on  his  resuming  the 
government  of  the  province,  and  his  seizure  of  the 
records,  protesting  therein,  that  it  was  not  his  intention 
to  use  any  hostile  proceedings  either  against  them  or 


46  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 


the  people  at  Providence.  As  Mr.  Preston's  house  on 
the  Patuxent  had  been  used  since  July  last,  as  the  seat 
of  government  for  the  province,  where  the  provincial 
records  had  been  kept,  a  considerable  quantity  of  arms 
and  ammunition,  as  it  appears,  had  been  there  also 
deposited.  Governor  Stone,  as  a  further  precautionary 
measure,  thought  it  proper  to  secure  these  arms  and 
ammunition,  and  accordingly  sent  an  armed  party  of 
twenty  men  for  that  purpose,  under  the  command  of 
William  Eltonhead  and  Josias  Fendel.  They  seized 
upon  such  arms,  &c.,  as  they  could  find,  not  only  in 
Preston's  house,  but  in  others  in  the  neighborhood, 
which  it  is  stated  they  searched,  and  brought  the  same 
to  St.  Mary's. 

Soon  after  these  transactions,  governor  Stone  began 
to  make  preparations  for  reducing  the  puritans  of  Anne 
Arundel  to  a  submission  and  obedience  to  Lord  Balti- 
more's government.  Having  collected  together  and 
armed  about  two  hundred  of  the  yeomanry  of  St.  Ma- 
ry's county,  who  were  willing  to  follow  him,  he  set  out 
with  his  little  army,  about  the  20th  of  March,  1654,  0. 
S.  towards  Providence.  He  had  collected,  also,  about 
eleven  or  twelve  vessels,  probably  such  as  are  now 
called  hay  crafty  for  the  transportation  of  some  of  his 
forces,  part  of  them  marching  along  the  bay  coast,  and 
the  vessels  serving  to  ferry  them  across  the  mouths  of 
the  rivers. 

Before  they  had  arrived  at  Herring  creek,  (sometimes 
called  Herring  bay,)  in  Anne  Arundel  county,  they  were 
met  by  messengers  in  a  boat,  who  had  been  sent  by  the 
government  at  Providence  with  a  letter  to  governor 
Stone,  remonstrating  against  his  proceedings,  and  de- 
siring to  be  informed  not  only  of  his  authority  and  power 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  47 

in  SO  doing,  but  whether  'he  were  resolved  to  come  to 
no  parley  or  treaty,'  protesting,  in  the  said  writing, 
'that,  by  the  help  of  God,  they  were  resolved  to  com- 
mit themselves  into  the  hand  of  God,  and  rather  die 
like  men,  than  live  like  slaves.'  No  answer  to  this 
message  appears  to  have  been  given  by  the  gover- 
nor, as  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  'these  mes- 
sengers were  apprehended,  and  their  boat  seized  ;'  but 
three  out  of  the  six  persons  on  board  the  boat,  con- 
trived to  make  their  escape,  and  carried  back  to  the 
government  at  Providence  the  intelligence  that  Stone 
and  his  army  were  on  their  march  towards  them  in 
hostile  array. 

On  the  arrival  of  governor  Stone  and  his  troops  at 
Herring  creek,  they  found  there,  it  seems,  one  of  the 
commissioners,  to  whom  the  government  had  been  in- 
trusted in  July  last,  by  Bennett  and  Claiborne.  This 
gentleman  they  caused  to  be  kept  under  guard :  and 
either  at  this  place  or  at  a  little  further  on  his  march, 
governor  Stone  deputed  Doctor  Luke  Barber  and  Mr. 
Coursey  to  go  on  before  them  to  Providence,  with  a 
proclamation  addressed  to  the  people  of  Anne  Arundel. 
Of  the  contents  of  this  proclamation,  thus  sent  by  Doc- 
tor Barber,  we  are  not  informed,  except  so  much  of  it 
as  is  given  by  Doctor  Barber,  subsequently,  to  wit : 
that,  'in  the  end  of  this  declaration,  the  governor  did 
protest,  as  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  that  he 
came  not  in  a  hostile  way,  to  do  them  any  hurt,  but 
sought  all  meanes  possible  to  reclaime  them  by  Jaire 
meanes,  and  to  my  knowledge,  at  the  sending  out  of 
parties,  he  gave  strict  command  that,  if  they  met  any 
of  the  ^nn  Arundel  men,  they  should  not  fire  the  first 
gun,  nor  upon  paine  of  death,  plunder  any.' 


48  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  'declaration,'  however,  does  not  appear  to  have 
had  any  salutary  effect ;  for,  although  they  were  per- 
mitted to  read  the  *  declaration,'  yet,  having  no  other 
treaty  to  offer,  they  were  quietly  dismissed  to  their  own 
company,  to  whom  they  might  have  gone,  if  they  would. 
But  it  seems  that  they  did  not  return  to  governor  Stone 
or  his  array. 

It  is  possible,  that  the  rapid  advance  of  the  party  to 
the  harbour  of  Providence,  might  have  precluded  the 
necessity  of  it ;  for,  on  the  evening  of  the  day  after,  H 
governor  Stone  and  his  followers  appeared  in  the  river  ( 
of  Severn^  at  Providence,  with  eleven  or  twelve  ves-  j 
sels,  greater  and  lesser,  in  which  their  whole  array  was  1 
transported. 

On  the  appearance  of  this  fleet,  captain  Fuller  called 
a  council  of  war,  at  which  Mr.  William  Durand,  the 
secretary  of  the  puritan  government  at  Providence,  was 
appointed  to  go  on  board  a  merchant  ship,  called  the 
Golden  Lyon,  then  lying  at  anchor  in  the  river,  of  which 
one  Heamans  was  master.  Mr.  Durand  was  directed 
to  affix  a  proclamation  on  the  mainmast  of  the  said 
ship,  directed  to  captain  Heamans,  commander  thereof; 
in  which  proclamation,  'he  {the  said  Heamans)  was  re- 
quired, in  the  name  of  the  lord  protector  and  common- 
wealth of  England,  and  for  the  maintenance  of  the  just 
liberty es,  lives,  and  estates  of  the  free  subjects  thereof, 
against  an  unjust  power,  to  be  aiding  and  assisting  in 
this  service.'  It  appears,  that  'the  said  captain  Hea- 
mans,  at  first,  was  unwilling,  but  afterwards,  seeing  the 
equity  of  the  cause,  and  the  groundless  proceedings  of 
the  enemy,  he  offered  himself,  ship  and  men,  for  that 
service,  to  be  directed  by  the  said  William  Durand.' 

Governor  Stone,  with  his  little  fleet  and  army,  had, 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  40 

by  this  time,  about  '  the  shutting  in  of  the  evening,' 
as  it  is  said,  on  th^24th  of  March,  (0.  S.)  arrived 
within  the  outer  harbour  of  Providence.  He  was 
now  also  within  the  range  of  the  shot  of  the  Golden 
Lyon,  from  whence  a  gun  was  fired  at  him,  in  order, 
as  is  said,  to  bring  him  or  some  messenger  on  board. 
Governor  Stone  did  not  think  it  proper  to  pay  any 
attention  to  this  signal  of  War,  as  it  appeared ;  but, 
having  arrived  within  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  which 
forms  the  southern  boundary  of  the  peninsula  on  which 
the  city  of  Annapolis  now  stands,  proceeded  to  land 
his  men  on  a  point  of  land  which  lies  on  the  southern 
side  of  both  the  river  Severn  and  the  before  mentioned 
creek,  nearly  opposite  to  and  in  an  eastern  direction 
from  what  is  called  the  dock  or  inner  harbour  of 
Annapolis,  and  on  which  point  or  peninsula  a  small 
fortress,  called  Fort  Horn,  was  afterwards  built  during 
the  American  revolutionary  War.  While  governor 
Stone  was  landing  his  men  on  this  point  of  land  or 
peninsula,  the  commander  Heamans,  or  Mr.  Durand, 
thought  it  proper  to  repeat  their  fire  upon  the  boats  of 
governor  Stone  as  they  were  rowing  to  the  shore. 
The  shot  thereof  lighting  somewhat  near  to  them,  the 
governor  deemed  it  most  prudent  to  send  a  messenger 
on  board  the  Golden  Lyon  to  know  the  reason  of  their 
conduct,  with  directions  to  the  messenger  to  inform  the 
captain  of  the  ship  that  he  (governor  Stone)  thought 
*  the  captain  of  the  ship  had  been  satisfied^  To  which 
the  captain  answered,  (in  a  very  blustering  tone,  as 
it  appears,)  '  satisfied  with  what  ? — I  never  saw  any 
power  governor  Stone  had,  to  do  as  he  hath  done,  but 
the  superscription  of  a  letter.  I  must  and  will  appear 
for  these  in  a  good  cause.*  It  would  appear  that 
6 


50  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  - 

governor  Stone  and  the  captain  had  some  explanation 
previous  to  the  firing  of  this  last  gun — at  least  it  is 
fair  so  to  presume,  from  the  nSure  of  the  captain's 
reply  to  his  message. 

Governor  Stone  having  moved  his  vessels  further  up 
the  creek  during  the  night,  captain  Heamans,  or  the 
puritans  on  shore,  contrived  early  the  next  morning  to 
place  a  vessel  or  vessels,  'with  two  pieces  of  ordi- 
nance' at  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  and  by  that  means 
blockaded  governor  Stone's  little  fleet  within  the  same, 
so  as  to  prevent  them  from  coming  out.  The  governor 
soon  after,  however,  on  the  same  day,  {Sunday,  the 
25th  of  March,  1654-'5,  0.  S.)  appeared  with  his 
small  army,  in  military  parade,  on  a  narrow  neck  of 
land,  (most  probably  that  on  which  the  remains  of  the 
before  mentioned  Jbrt  now  are,)  near  where  he  had 
landed.  The  captain  of  the  ship  (Heamans)  observ- 
ing this,  brought  his  guns  to  bear  upon  them,  and 
firing  at  them,  killed  one  man,  and  by  that  means 
forced  them  to  march  further  off  into  the  neck.  In  the 
meantime  captain  Fuller,  the  puritan  commander,  with 
his  company,  consisting  of  a  hundred  and  twenty  men, 
embarked  in  their  boats,  most  probably  from  the  pen- 
insula whereon  Annapolis  now  stands,  and  went  up 
the  river  some  distance,  where  they  landed  and  marched 
round  the  head  of  the  creek  to  where  governor  Stone 
and  his  people  were  waiting  to  receive  them,  a  dis- 
tance of  six  miles. 

'  On  the  approach  of  the  puritans,  the  sentry  of  the 
people  of  St.  Mary's,  or  Marylanders,  fired  his  alarm 
gun,  when  the  men  of  governor  Stone  immediately 
appeared  in  order.  Captain  Fuller  still  expecting  that 
governor  Stone  might  possibly  give  a  reason  for  their 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  51 

coming,  commanded  his  men  upon  pain  of  death  not 
to  shoot  a  gun,  or  give  the  first  onset.  Setting  up  the 
standard  of  the  commonwealth  of  England,  against 
which  the  enemy  shot  five  or  six  guns,  and  killed  one 
man  in  the  front,  before  a  shot  was  made  by  the  other. 

'  Then  the  word  was  given,  in  the  name  of  God  fall 
on;  God  is  our  strength, — that  was  the  word  for 
Providence :  the  Marylander's  word  was, — Hey  for 
Saint  Maries. 

*  The  charge  was  fierce  and  sharp  for  the  time  ;  but 
through  the  glorious  presence  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
manifested  in  and  towards  his  poor  oppressed  people, 
the  enemy  could  not  endure,  but  gave  back,  and 
were  so  effectually  charged  home,  that  they  were  all 
routed,  turned  their  backs,  threw  down  their  arms, 
and  begged  mercy.  After  the  first  volley  of  shot,  a 
small  company  of  the  enemy  from  behind  a  great 
tree  fallen,  galled  us  and  wounded  divers  of  our  men, 
but  were  soon  beaten  off.  Of  the  whole  company  of  the 
Marylanders,  there  escaped  only  four  or  five,  who  run 
away  out  of  the  army  to  carry  news  to  their  confede" 
rates.  Governor  Stone,  colonel  Price,  captain  Gerrard, 
captain  Lewis,  captain  Kendall,  captain  Guither, 
major  Chandler,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  councellors, 
officers  and  souldiers  of  the  Lord  Baltimore,  among 
whom,  both  commanders  and  souldiers,  a  great  number 
being  papists,  were  taken,  and  so  were  all  their 
vessels,  arms,  ammunition  and  provision ;  about  fifty 
men  slain  and  wounded.  We  lost  only  two  in  the 
field ;  but  two  died  since  of  their  wounds.  God  did 
appear  wonderful  in  the  field,  and  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  all  confessing  him  to  be  the  only  worker 
of  this  victory  and  deliverance.' 


62  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

In  giving  the  above  account  of  the  battle,  the 
words  of  Mr.  Leonard  Strong  have  been  used,  who,  it 
is  probable,  was  an  eye-witness,  and  in  the  battle,  he 
being  one  of  captain  Fuller's  council,  at  Providence. 

It  is  alleged,  that  the  puritans  of  Providence,  seve- 
ral days  after  the  fight,  put  to  death  four  of  governor 
Stone's  party.  We  wish  it  was  in  our  power  to  con- 
tradict and  disprove  this  cold-blooded  outrage,  even 
at  this  late  period,  for  the  sake  of  humanity  and  the 
character  of  the  first  settlers  of  our  native  city  ;  but  the 
evidence  seems  to  be  too  strong  to  admit  a  doubt  of  its 
truth. 

Doctor  Barber  says,  (and  he  appears  to  be  entitled  to 
full  credit,)  that,  'after  the  skirmish,  the  governor,  upon 
quarter  given  him  and  all  his  company  in  the  field, 
yielded  to  be  taken  prisoners  ;  but,  two  or  three  days 
after,  the  victors  condemned  ten  to  death,  and  executed 
Jbure,  and  had  executed  all,  had  not  the  incessant  peti- 
tioning and  begging  of  some  good  women  saved  some, 
and  the  souldiers  others  ;  the  governor  himselfe  being 
condemned  by  them,  and  since  beg'd  by  the  souldiers  ; 
some  being  saved  just  as  they  were  leading  out  to 
execution.' 

Mrs.  Stone,  also,  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Baltimore,  states 
that,  *after  quarter  given,  they  tried  all  your  councel- 
lors  by  a  councell  of  warre,  and  sentence  was  passed 
upon  my  husband  to  be  shot  to  death,  but  was  after 
saved  by  the  enemy's  owne  souldiers,  and  so  the  rest 
of  the  councellors  were  saved  by  the  petitions  of  the 
women,  with  some  other  friends  which  they  found 
there.' 

The  four  who  were  shot  to  death  after  trial  by  court- 
martial,  were  Mr.  William  Eltonhead,  lieutenant  Wil- 


AKNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  53 

liam  Lewis,  Mr.  Leggat,  and  a  German,  whose  name 
is  not  mentioned,  but  who  is  stated  to  have  lived  with 
Mr.  Eltonhead.  The  principle  is  universally  acknow- 
ledged, that  the  captor  in  war,  even  in  the  case  of 
civil  commotions,  has  no  right  to  put  his  captive  to 
death,  after  surrender  and  quarter  given.  This  most 
sanguinary  transaction  must,  therefore,  strike  every 
enlightened  individual  at  this  day,  as  one  of  those 
atrocities  which  the  vindictive  passions  incident  to  a 
civil  war  in  any  community  are  too  apt  to  produce. 

The  puritans  of  Providence  having  thus,  by  the  de- 
feat of  governor  Stone,  secured  to  themselves  the  go- 
vernment of  the  province,  not  only  detained  him  and 
his  followers  for  some  time  as  prisoners  of  war,  but  pro- 
ceeded to  the  sequestration  of  their  property,  whom 
they  termed  delinquents. 

Our  documents  do  not  mention  the  length  of  time 
that  governor  Stone  and  his  companions  were  detained 
at  Providence,  but  it  is  supposed  they  were  not  libera- 
ted until  captain  Fuller  and  his  council  had  despatched 
their  messengers  to  England  to  prepossess  the  mind  of 
the  government  there  in  their  favor;  and  then  not  until 
they  had  the  mortification  of  being  witnesses  to  the 
execution  of  the  order  for  a  sequestration  of  their 
property. 

In  this  year,  Lord  Baltimore's  right  and  authority 
over  the  province  was  admitted  by  the  Lord  Protector, 
and  captain  Josias  Fendall  was  appointed  governor  by 
his  lordship.  What  motives  Lord  Baltimore  had  for 
substituting  Fendall  as  governor  of  his  province,  in- 
stead of  governor  Stone,  does  not  appear. 

It  was  not  until  this  year,  that  the  puritans, 
who  had  settled  at  Providence,  acknowledged 
6* 


64  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

themselves  as  being  within  Lord  Baltimore's  province 
of  Maryland — having  considered  themselves  as  being  a 
part  of  Virginia,  or  a  distinct  colony.  However,  on  the 
24th  of  March,  1657,  negotiations  were  entered  into 
between  the  proprietary  and  the  puritan  government, 
for  a  surrender  of  the  province  to  Lord  Baltimore. 

Thus,  after  a  lapse  of  six  years,  his  lordship  was 
again  restored  to  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  province,  'to 
the  content  and  peace  of  all  parties.' 

In  tracing  the  early  history  of  Providence,  occa- 
sion is  now  taken,  to  acknowledge  the  entire  indebted- 
ness of  the  compiler  of  these  Annals  to  Bozman's  able 
and  interesting  History  of  Maryland,  for  all  the  inci- 
dents and  facts  having  a  bearing  upon  it ;  and  to  say, 
that  a  full  and  free  use  of  that  work  has  been  made — 
being  sensible  that  nothing  better  could  have  been  said 
on  the  occasion,  than  has  been,  by  that  admirable 
historian. 

Our  records  do  not  afford  us  any  further  information 
relating  to  the  settlement  at  Providence  until  the  year 
1683.  This,  with  several  other  omissions,  unavoida- 
bly occur  in  these  Annals,  and  is  to  be  mainly  attribu- 
ted to  the  removal  of  the  records  and  public  documents 
of  the  province  from  St.  Mary's  to  Annapolis,  some  of 
which  were  greatly  damaged.*  To  this  cause,  is  to  be 
added,  also,  the  loss  of  some  by  the  fire  which  destroyed 
the  State-house  in  the  year  1704,  where  they  were  chiefly 
deposited, 

•  Proceeding  of  the  Upper  House  of  Assembly,  St.  Mary's,  lOtk  May, 
1682.  MSS.  Journal,  page  418. 
'Taking  into  consideration  the  ruinous  condition  of  the  state-house, 
(which  hath  heen  so  chargeable  to  the  country,)  occassioned  for  want 
of  soHie  good,  carefull  and  skiUfulI  overseer  at  first  appointed  to  9U- 
(lervise  the  managing  and  carrying  on  the  building  thereof,  insomuch 


AKKALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  55 


CHAPTER   III. 

Contempt  of  Assembly — Trial  of  Edward  Erbery — Condemned  and 
Whipped — Witchcraft — Condemnation  of  John  Cowman — And  par- 
doned— The  Quakers  remonstrate  against  taking  Oaths — Proceed- 
ings of  the  Assembly  thereon — Indian  Affairs — Protection  of  the 
Indians  by  the  Colonists — Hostility  of  the  Stisquehanocks — Causes 
of— Treaty  with  them — Murders  committed  by  the  Indians — Expe- 
dition against  them — Five  Chiefs  of  the  Susquehanocks  murdered — 
Impeachment  of  Major  Thomas  Truman — His  Trial  and  Convic- 
tion— Proceedings  of  the  Assembly  thereon — Controversy  between 
the  Lord  Proprietary  and  the  Lower  House  of  Assembly  upon  the 
Act  for  calling  Assemblies — Extracts  from  the  Rules  of  the  Lower 
House  of  Assembly — Annapolis  erected  into  a  Town,  &c. — Com- 
missioners appointed  to  survey  and  lay  out  Annapolis — Annapolis 
becomes  the  Seat  of  Government — Governor  Nicholson  causes  the 
Records  to  be  removed  from  St.  Mary's — Public  Ferry — First  Cor- 
poration of  Annapolis — Mr.  Richard  Beard  makes  a  map  of  the 
Town— A  Market  and  Fair — Proposition  for  a  Bridewell — Im- 
provement of  Annapolis — A  Church  proposed  to  be  erected — King 
William's  School  established — William  Pinkney  a.  Student  of  it — 
Governor  Nicholson  projects  a  Library  for  Annapolis — A  State- 
House  built — Roman  Catholics— Persecution  of. 

ifififi  In  the  absence  of  other  matter  connected  with 
the  immediate  history  of  Annapolis  from  the  year 
1657  to  to  1683,  the  reader  will  doubtless  be  gratified  at 
the  perusal  of  such  extracts  from  the  MSS.  journals  of 
the  province,  between  these  dates,  of  an  interesting 
and  amusing  character,  not  before  made  public. 

that  the  same,  in  a  short  time,  (if  not  speedily  repaired,)  must  inevi- 
tably fall  to  the  ground,  being  already  so  leaky  and  decayed  as  will 
hardly  secure  the  records  of  the  province  (there  kept)  from  the  weather, 
this  House  desire  the  Lower  House  to  consider  thereof,  and  to  concur 
with  this  House,  in  new  covering,  and  making  such  necessary  repairs 
thereof,  as  may  render  the  same  useful  and  serviceable  for  the  country, 
and  in  making  a  partition  at  the  stair  foot,  that  both  Houses  of  Assem- 
bly may  there  meet,  without  which  repairs  and  partition,  the  recordf 
of  the  province  miut  inevilably  suffer  next  winter.^ 


56  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

'Upper  House,  Saturday,  28th  Jpril,  1666. 

*Then  came  a  member  from  the  lower  house,  and 
desired  the  governor,  from  the  whole  lower  house, 
not  to  discharge  Edward  Erbery,  merchant,  from  the 
sure  of  Bristol ;  in  regard,  they  had  something  to  object 
against  him,  as  well  for  abusing  the  lower  house  of 
assembly,  as  his  lordship,  last  night.' 

'Then  came  a  member  from  the  lower  house,  with 
this  paper  following : 

'Tuesday,  1st  May,  1666. 

'William  Calvert,  Esq.  motions  the  house, 

'That,  whereas  there  was  an  abuse  committed  last 
night  by  Edward  Erbery,  to  the  disturbance  of  the 
whole  house,  in  their  quiet  and  rest,  and  the  clerk  of 
this  house  informs  that  the  said  Erbery  did  call  the 
whole  house  papists,  rogues,  ****  rogues,  &c.  which 
the  speaker  is  desired  to  take  notice  of,  and  proceed 
therein,  either  by  presentment  or  otherwise,  as  to  him 
shall  seem  best,  and  that  it  be  the  first  thing  this  house 
takes  into  their  consideration  or  debate.' 

'Mr.  Nicholas  Piccard  and  Mr.  Richard  Blunt  in- 
formed the  house  of  certain  vulgar  and  indecent  ex- 
pressions of  Erbery  concerning  the  lower  house,  and 
that  they  were  ashamed  of  the  place  from  whence 
they  came.' 

'Mr.  Richard  Hall  says,  that  amongst  a  great  many 
other  extravagant  words,  Erbery  said  that  Charles  Cal- 
vert was  a  rogue.' 

'William  Calvert,  Esq.  saith,  how  that  Erbery,  in 
his  hearing,  said,  we,  viz.  the  assembly,  were  a  com- 
pany of  pitiful  rogues  and  puppys,  and  there  is  not  one 
in   the   country   deserves   to   keep   me   company  but 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS,  57 

Charles  Calvert,  who  owes  me  ten  thousand  pounds 
of  tobacco.' 

*Mr.  Richard  Smith  informs  that  this  morning,  when 
^Erbery  awaked,  the  said  Erbery  complained  that  he 
was  bound ;  that  he  remembered  all  that  he  had  said 
last  night,  and  that  he  was  not  drunk  ;  and  in  a  threat- 
ning  manner,  said  he  would  remember  those  that 
bound  him.' 

'The  abuse  that  Edward  Erbery  gave  to  the  lieu- 
tenant-general and  this  assembly  last  night,  being 
taken  into  consideration,  and  upon  a  full  debate  there- 
on, had  in  this  house,  they  do  judge  the  same  to  be  a 
scandal  to  the  Lord  Proprietor,  to  his  lieutenant-gene- 
ral, and  to  both  houses  of  assembly,  and  a  great  reflec- 
tion upon  the  whole  province  in  general ;  and,  there- 
fore, unanimously  voted  by  this  house,  that  the  said 
Erbery  be  brought  before  this  house,  to  give  answer  to 
the  abovesaid  charge,  in  relation  to  those  informations 
now  given  in  against  him.' 

'  Ordered  by  the  speaker  that  Mr.  Edward  Erbery 
be  brought  into  the  house  by  the  sheriff,  &c,' 

*  And  taxed  by  the  speaker  of  all  those  words  spo- 
ken, who  making  his  appearance  after  the  charge  being 
read  unto  him,  he  answered  that  he  remembered  none 
of  these  words  that  is  alledged,  only  he  confesseth  that 
he  was  in  drink,  and  being  further  taxed  about  the 
words  spoken  this  morning,  (which  were  averred  by  a 
member  of  this  house)  be  says  that  he  remembers  not 
that  ever  he  spoke  such  words. 

'  Which  answer  being  taken  into  consideration,  the 
house  do  judge  the  same  altogether  unsatisfactory,  and 
that  no  person  of  fuU  age  shall  take  advantage  by 
drunkeness  in  such  case. 


68"  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  ^' 

*  Whereupon  this  house  do  humbly  present  the 
consideration  hereof  to  the  upper  house,  that  they 
would  please  to  signify  to  this  house  their  resentment 
of  the  same,  and  what  they  shall  judge  further  ne- 
cessary to  be  done  with  the  said  Erbery  as  touching 
the  punishment  or  otherwise  for  this  house's  concur- 
rence therewith.' 

'  The  upper  house  do  order  that  the  said  Edward 
Erbery  be  tyed  to  the  apple  tree  before  the  house  of 
assembly,  and  be  there  publickly  whipped  upon  the 
bare  back  with  thirty-nine  lashes,  and  that  the  sherriff 
of  St.  Mary's  county  be  commanded  to  apprehend 
the  said  Erbery  and  see  this  order  put  in  execution, 
and  that  the  said  Erbery  do  pay  the  sherriff  his  fees 
before  he  depart  out  of  his  custody ;  and  further  or- 
dered, that  the  said  Erbery  be,  after  he  is  whipped, 
brought  into  both  houses  of  assembly  publickly  to  ask 
them  forgiveness,' 

(Signed)         John  Gittings,  Clerk. 

The  following  *  new  and  unheard  of  thing  in  this 
province,'  is  extracted  from  the  journals  of  the  upper 
house  in  1674,  and  it  is  hoped  and  believed  to  be  the 
only  judicial  transaction  of  its  kind  to  be  found  upon 
its  pages,  to  stain  the  fair  fame  of  the  noble  founder, 
and  usually  enlightened  legislators  of  this  provice. 

If  it  be  a  matter  of  surprise  that  it  should  be  found 
at  all  recorded  there — is  it  not  also  one  of  wonder  and 
satisfaction  that  it  should  be  the  only  one  case — when 
we  reflect  that  the  '  toitch  mania'  had  not  yet  passed 
from  enlightened  Europe,  and  still  hung  as  a  dark  cloud 
over  other  provinces  on  this  continent,  and  whose  ad- 
vantages, flowing  from  education  and  science,  were  so 
much  greater  than  that  of  this  more  recently  settled 


^  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  59 

colony,  and  will,  in  this  instance,  be  satisfactorily  ac- 
counted for,  from  the  'natural  embarrassments  incident 
to  the  planting  of  a  new  colony,  and  the  consequent 
want  of  means  for  a  more  enlarged  education.' 

'Upper  House,  February  llth,  1674. 

'Came  into  this  house,  a  petition  of  the  lower  house, 
as  followeth,  viz : 

'To  the  honourable  Charles  Calvert,  esquire.  Lieu- 
tenant General  and  Chief  Judge  of  the  Provincial  Court 
of  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Proprietary, 

'The  humble  petition  of  the  Deputies  and  Delegates 
of  the  Lower  House  of  Assembly, 

'Humbly  sheweth  to  your  excellency, 

'That,  whereas  John  Cowman  being  arraigned,  con- 
victed and  condemned  upon  the  statute  of  the  first  of 
King  James  of  England,  &c.  for  witchcraft,  conjura- 
tion, socery  or  enchantment  used  upon  the  body  of 
Elizabeth  Goodall,  and  now  lying  under  that  condem- 
nation, and  hath  humbly  implored  and  beseeched  us, 
your  lordship's  petitioners,  to  mediate  and  intercede  in 
his  behalf  with  your  excellency  for  a  reprieve  and  stay 
of  execution. 

'Your  excellencie's  petitioners  do,  therefore,  accord- 
ingly, in  all  humble  manner,  beseech  your  excellency 
that  the  rigour  and  severity  of  the  law  to  which  the  said 
condemned  malefactor  hath  miserably  exposed  himself, 
may  be  remitted  and  relaxed  by  the  exercise  of  your 
excellency's  mercy  and  clemencie  upon  so  wretched 
and  miserable  an  object. 

'And  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever 
pray,  &c.' 


60  >       *  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  i* 

*Upper  House,  February  11th, 
*The  lieutenant-general  hath  considered  of  the  peti- 
tion here  above,  and  is  willing,  upon  the  request  of  the 
lower  house,  that  the  condemned  malefactor  be  repriev- 
ed, and  execution  stayed,  provided  that  the  sheriff  of 
St.  Maries'  county  carry  him  to  the  gallows,  and  that 
the  rope  being  about  his  neck,  it  be  there  made  known 
to  him  how  much  he  is  beholding  to  the  lower  house  of 
assemblie  for  mediating  and  interceeding  in  his  behalf 
with  the  lieutenant-general,  and  that  he  remain  at  the 
city  of  St.  Maries,  to  be  employed  in  such  service  as 
the  governor  and  council  shall  think  fitt,  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  governor.' 

The  quakers,  or  friends,  who  had  settled  in  Maryland 
at  an  early  period  of  its  establishment,  suffering  under 
that  system  of  intolerance  and  persecution  which  pre- 
vailed against  all  dissenters  at  that,  and  down  to  a  later 
day,  remonstrated  against  the  unjust  laws  of  the  pro- 
vince which  debarred  their  testimony  on  'affirmation,' 
and  subjected  them  to  heavy  penalties  for  refusing  to 
take  the  prescribed  'oaths  ;'  although  contrary  to  their 
conscience,  and,  in  their  opinion,  the  Saviour's  positive 
injunction,  declared  in  his  sermon  on  the  mount — 
^ swear  not  at  all.''  This  remonstrance  or  petition  ap- 
pears upon  the  journals  of  the  upper  house  in  1674, 
and  is  as  follows : 

'Saturday,  23d  May,  1674. 

'Read  in  the  house,  a  petition  exhibited  by  certain 
quakers,  as  follows,  viz  : 

'This  we  do  lay  before  the  governour  and  council 
and  assembly,  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  to  consider  of, 
from  us  who  are  in  scorn  called  quakers. 

'What  we  can  say  and  do  instead  of  an  oath,  it  is  in 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.      ^  6l 

obedience  to  Christ's  command,  that  we  cannot  swear 
and  take  an  oath,  and  Christ  our  Lord  and  Saviour's 
command  is,  'I  say  unto  you  swear  not  at  all.'  Though 
in  the  old  time,  they  were  not  to  forswear  themselves, 
but  perform  their  oaths  to  the  Lord ;  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ's  command  is^  but  let  your  communication  be 
yea,  yea,  and  nay,  nay ;  for  whatsoever  is  more  than 
these  cometh  of  evil :  and  St.  James  saith,  in  his  general 
epistle  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  above  all  things,  my  bre- 
theren,  swear  not ;  neither  by  heaven,  nor  by  the  earthy 
nor  by  any  other  oath  ;  mark,  but  let  your  yea,  be  yea^ 
and  your  nay,  be  nay,  least  you  fall  into  condemnation. 
Now,  here^e  may  see,  that  Christ  and  apostles  setts  us 
yea,  yea,  and  nay,  nay,  over  and  above  an  oath  and 
swearing,  and  in  lieu  of  an  oath.  See,  in  obedience  to 
Christ  and  the  apostles'  command,  it  is,  that  we  do 
not,  and  dare  not  sweai',  least  we  should  go  into  the 
evil,  and  so  fall  into  condemnation,  as  Christ  and  the 
apostles  saith  beforCi  But,  according  to  Christ  Jesus 
and  the  apostles'  command,  doe  keep  to  yea,  yea,  and 
nay,  nay,  wherein  they  do  double  their  words  to  make 
them  of  more  force.  Christ  Jesus  to  the  disciples  and 
the  apostles  to  the  church ;  and  nowj  if,  that  we  are 
called  to  testifie  the  truth,  or  to  serve  in  any  office  or 
place  or  jurie,  if  that  we  do  break  our  yea,  yea,  or  nay, 
hay,  then  let  us  suffer  the  same  penalty,  as  they,  that  do 
break  an  oath,  or  are  foresworne.  And  this  not  re- 
pugnant to  the  laws  of  England,  having  the  same  pe- 
nalty on  the  same  transgression ;  for,  in  Jamaica,  their 
law  is  so,  that  our  bretheren's  testimony  upon  yea,  yeaj 
and  nay,  nay,  as  Christ  and  as  the  apostles  commanded, 
is  taken,  and  the  same  in  the  acts  and  province  laws  at 
Carolina,  and  the  same  in  the  patent  and  acts  at  Rx)ad 
6 


^    ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

Island,  and  the  same  in  the  new  country  of  Jersey,  is 
taken  instead  of  an  oath  ;  which  the  governour  and  his 
council  and  assembly  may,  by  an  act  of  assembly,  let 
us  have  the  same  liberty  here,  as  our  bretheren  have  in 
other  places,  colonies  or  provinces,  that  we  may  not  be 
put  to  inconveniences,  for  you  do  know  what  trouble 
often  many  of  us  are  put  to,  because  we  cannot  swear 
and  take  an  oath,  and  do  lose  our  rights  and  that  which 
is  due  to  us  from  others,  and  how  we  have  been  made 
a  prey  upon  by  many,  because  we  cannot  swear,  and 
have  lost  much  in  our  estates,  and  cannot  be  so  ser- 
viceable in  our  generation  to  the  country,  as  we  might 
be,  and  also  what  trouble  we  have  had,  who  have  been 
overseers  or  executors,  or  the  like,  that  have  been  in- 
trusted with  orphans,  fatherless,  and  widdows^  estates  or 
wills,  for  ^ant  of  an  oath.  And,  therefore,  you  having 
power  to  remedie  these  things  by  making  an  act,  we  do 
lay  them  before  you,  and  that  if  we  do  breake  our  yea, 
yea,  or  nay,  nay,  or  what  we  testifie,  then  let  us  suffer 
the  same  punishment  as  they  do  that  break  their  oaths 
or  swear  falsly ;  and  this  we  are  willing  to  suffer,  who 
profess  faith  in  Christ,  and  would  have  all  that  profess 
the  same,  to  exercise  a  conscience  void  of  offence  to- 
wards God  and  men.  So  you  may  remove  this  oppres- 
sion if  you  please,  and  let  us  have  the  same  liberty  that 
our  friends  and  bretheren  have  in  other  countrys  and 
islands,  as  we  are  credibly  informed ;  whose  hands  are 
hereunto  subscribed  in  the  behalfs  of  our  bretheren. 
'Wenlock  Christerson,  Jo.  Homeard, 
'William  Perrie,  Ri.  Beard,  &c.' 

'Ordered  by  the  house,  that  the  petition  here  above 
be  sent  to  the  lower  house,  and  offered  to  their  consi- 
deration.' 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.      _  63 

This  petiiion  was  accordingly  sent  to  the  lower 
house,  who  returned  it  with  a  message  requesting  to 
be  informed  by  his  excellency  and  the  upper  house, 
whether,  in  their  opinion,  the  assembly  had  the  power 
to  alter  the  form  of  the  oath  prescribed  by  the  laws  of 
England,  in  point  of  evidence  between  the  king  and 
his  people,  &c.  in  matters  depending  within  this  pro- 
vince or  not.  To  which  message,  the  upper  house 
replied,  that  ihey  had  resolved,  that  the  petition  should 
remain  upon  the  journal  till  further  advice  from  the 
Lord  Proprietary,  who  declared  that  he  'formerly  had 
intentions  of  gratifying  the  desire  of  the  said  people, 
called  quakersj  in  that  kind ;'  but,  for  some  reason  not 
mentioned,  his  lordship  desired  'that  all  proceedings 
therein  be,  for  the  present,  suspended.' 

This  highly  respectable  and  long  misunderstood 
society  of  christians,  were  not  restored  to  the  rights 
and  privileges,  so  moderately,  but  firmly,  insisted  upon 
in  the  foregoing  petition,  until  the  year  1702* — when 
the  legislature  struck  from  the  statute  books  this  relict 
of  intolerance. 

For  several  years  previous  to  1675,  the  in- 
habitants of  the  province  of  Maryland,  and  the 
Indians  within,  and  upon  her  border  county,  lived 
upon  terms  of  peace  and  amity.  Indeed,  it  could  not 
well  be  otherwise,  such  being  the  nature  and  benevo- 
lent character  of  the  laws  and  resolutions  of  the  pro- 
vince for  the  protection  of  the  friendly  Indians.  From 
the  proceedings  of  the  assembly,  the  strongest  dispo- 
sition was  manifested  to  cherish  and  protect  them ; 
and  in  no  instance  did  the  government  take  from  the 

*  See  act  of  1702,  chap.  1,  sec.  21, 


$4  ANNALS    OP    ANNAPOLIS. 

Aborigines  one  acre  of  land  without  a  remuneration 
perfectly  satisfactory  to  them.*  The  cause  of  the  fre- 
quent removals  by  the  Indians  grew  out  of  the  wars 
carried  on  between  the  different  tribes.  The  Piscatto- 
way  and  Patuxent  Indians,  who  were  uniformly  friendly 
to  the  colonists,  were  protected  from  the  more  fierce 
and  warlike  tribes  of  Senecas  and  Susquehanocks,  by 
the  forces  of  the  province. 

At  least  in  one  instance  (in  1673)  the  province 
rented  land  'of  the  orphans  of  a  Mr.  Billingsley,'  for 
the  space  of  five  years,  for  the  use  of  the  Mattapanie 
and  Patuxent  Indians,  until  'some  other  place  might 
be  found  for  further  settlement,'  and  the  expense  ordered 
to  be  paid  out  of  the  public  treasury.  The  Piscatto- 
ways  were  located  at  the  head  of  the  Potomac,  and 
were  presented  with  many  implements  of  husbandry — 
and  every  possible  inducement  held  out  to  encourage 
them  to  make  a  permanent  residence  there.  Three 
years  provision  was  supplied  them,  that  they  might  not 
want,  and  until  they  could  by  the  cultivation  of  their 
land  support  themselves.  Arbitrators  were  appointed 
throughout  the  province  to  determine  all  difficulties 
"which  might  arise  between  the  English  and  the  Indians  : 

*  'Resolved,  That  if  there  be  any  pretence  of  conquest,  it  can  be 
only  supposed  against  the  NATIVE  Indian  infidels;  which  suppo- 
sition cannot  be  admitted,  because  the  christian  inhabitants  purchased 
great  part  of  the  land  they  at  first  took  up  from  the  Indians,  as  well 
as  from  the  Lord  Proprietary,  and  have  ever  since  continued  in  an 
amicable  course  of  trade  with  them,  except  some  partial  outrages 
and  skirmishes  which  never  amounted  to  a  general  war,  much  less 
to  a  general  conquest,  the  Indians  yet  enjoying  their  rights  and 
priviledges  of  treaties  and  trade  with  the  English,  of  whom  we  yet 
frequently  purchase  their  rights  of  such  lands  as  we  take  up,  as 
well  as  of  the  Lord  Proprietary.'  See  journal  of  the  house  of  dele- 
galea,  1722 — page  2. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.'^  65 

and  where  even-handed  justice  was  not  awarded  to  the 
Indian,  the  offending  arbitrator  met  with  the  censure  of 
the  assembly,  and  with  suitable  punishment. 

The  Susquehanocks  commenced  hostilities  against 
the  colonists  in  1639,  and  committed  many  murders 
and  depredations  on  them.  This  warfare  appears  to 
have  been  brought  on  by  the  endeavors  of  the  colonists 
to  stay  their  incursions  against  the  peaceable  and 
friendly  tribes  of  Piscattoway  and  Patuxent,  and  pro-- 
bably  the  Yoamacoes,  with  whom  the  Susquehanocks 
never  ceased  to  wage  hostilities  since  the  first  settle' 
raent  of  the  Maryland  colony  at  St.  Mary's, 

In  1652,  at  the  earnest  desire  of  the  Susquehanocks, 
a  treaty  of  peace  and  amity  was  concluded  between 
them,  the  colonists  and  the  friendly  Indians,  This 
treaty  took  place  'at  the  river  Severn,  in  the  province 
of  Maryland,'*  on  the  fifth  day  of  July,  in  that  year. 
The  terms  of  the  treaty  then  made,  appear  to  have 
been  inviolably  observed  until  this  year,  (1675)  when 
a  circumstance  occurred  to  disturb  the  harmony  which 
had  so  long  endured  between  the  respective  parties ; 
the  particulars  of  which  will  be  presently  given  from 
the  journals  of  assembly,  under  the  head  of  'the  im^ 
peachment  of  major  Thomas  Truman.' 

The  Susquehanocks,  who  had  been  till  about  this 
period,  (1675)  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the  Indian 
tribes  in  Maryland — -had  in  their  turn  to  fly  before 
the  more  formidable  and  warlike  tribe  of  Senecas,  and 
were  driven  by  them  from  the  head  of  the  Susque- 
hannah.  They  took  refuge  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Piscattoways,  at  the  head  of  the  Potomac.  Soon 
after  their  reaching  this,  place,  Maryland  and  Virginia 

*  Now  the  City  of  Annapolis, 


66  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

were  induced  in  consequence  of  recent  murders  having 
been  committed  on  several  of  the  inhabitants,  to  send 
out  an  expedition  in  that  direction.  The  united  forces 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia  invested  a  fort,  then  occu- 
pied by  the  Susquehanocks,  but  belonging  to  the 
Piscattoways. 

It  appears  from  the  journals  of  assembly  that  five 
of  the  chiefs  of  the  Susquehanocks  were  enticed  from 
this  fort  under  pretences  of  friendship,  and  then  treach- 
erously murdered — for  which  major  Truman,  who 
commanded  the  Maryland  forces,  was  impeached  and 
tried  for  murder.  As  another  evidence  of  the  justice 
of  the  province,  even  to  a  'cunning — skulking,  and 
dangerous  enemy,'  proof  will  be  adduced  from  the 
journals,  on  the  impeachment  of  major  Truman.* 

'Impeachment  of  major  Thomas  Truman.* 

'Upper  House. 

jg^g  'On  Tuesday,  May  16th,  (1676,)  at  Sin  the 
morning,  the  house  met. 

'Present :  The  Pwi^ht  Honourable  the  Lord  Proprie- 
tary, the  Honourable  Secretary,  Jesse  Wharton,  Esq., 
Thomas  Taylor,  Esq.,  Baker  Brooke,  Esq. 

'The  Honorable  Chancellor  enters  the  house. 

'The  lower  house  requested  by  colonel  Burgess  and 
Mr.  Weekes,  that  the  commission  and  instructions 
from  his  lordship  to  major  Thomas  Truman,  touching 
the  late  warr  with  the  Indians,  may  be  sent  to  them  by 
this  house.  In  pursuance  whereof  the  Honourable 
Secretary  and  lieut.  col.  Tailor  were  by  this  house 

•  Ttiis  major  Truman  was  at  one  time  a  distinguished  member  of 
the  assembly,  and  ctiancellor  of  the  province. 


ANNALS   OF   ANNAPOLIS.  67 

sent  with  a  true  copy  of  the  said  commission  and  in- 
structions, who  delivered  the  same  to  the  lower  house.* 

'Lower  House,  16th  May,  1676. 

*Voted  that  a  message  be  sent  to  the  right  honour- 
able the  Lord  Proprietary  and  upper  house,  to  desire 
to  know  in  what  articles  of  major  Truman's  commis- 
sion and  instructions  he  hath  been  faulty,  and  who  are 
the  persons  that  accuse  him,  and  can  prove  it ;  that  so 
the  said  persons  may  attend  this  house  to  give  them 
satisfaction  in  the  crimes  and  offences  of  the  said 
Truman.' 

'In  answer  to  which  message  this  house  returned  to 
the  lower  house,  that  it  is  conceived  by  this  house, 
that  the  lower  house  are  the  general  inquisitors  of  this 
province,  and  ought  to  become  impeachers  of  the 
above  mentioned  Truman,  touching  his  guiltiness  of 
the  breach  of  any  of  the  articles  above,  as  the  same 
shall  appear  to  them  upon  examination  of  witnesses. 
Some  of  the  most  considerable  of  the  said  witnesses 
now  silting  in  their  house,  and  that  this  house  is  ready 
to  receive  the  said  impeachment. 

'Signed  by  order,  Richard  Broughtqn, 

Clerk  of  the  Assembly? 

'Ordered,  that  Cornet  Courtney  and  William  Cole  do 
appear  before  the  lower  house,  to  make  report  of  some 
matters  to  them,  touching  the  impeachment  of  major 
Thomas  Truman.' 

'Ordered  by  the  upper  house,  that  captain  Henry 
Darnell  do  forthwith  secure  the  person  of  major  Thomas 
Truman  in  safe  custody,  till  the  said  major  shall  clear 
himself  of  such  crimes  and  offences  whereof  he,  shall 
stand  impeached  by  the  lower  house  of  assembly,' 


68  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLia. 

'Ordered,  that  captain  John  Allen  and  doctor  Charles 
Gregory  do,  with  all  expedition,  make  their  appearance 
before  the  right  honourable  the  Lord  Proprietary  and 
his  honourable  council,  sitting  in  assembly,  to  testifie 
the  truth  of  their  knowledge  touching  the  late  barba' 
rous  and  inhumane  murder  of  five  Susquehannah  In- 
dians, and  that  the  said  captain  Allen  give  strict  com- 
mand to  his  lieutenant  to  continue  ranging  the  woods 
in  his  absence.  'Signed,  &c.* 

*7b  captain  John  Allen  and 

'■Dr.  Charles  Gregory,  of  Charles  county.^ 

A  similar  order  to  the  foregoing  was  issued  to  Ninian 
Beale. 

'Interrogatories  for  John  Shanks,  to  be  examined 
touching  the  late  expedition  against  the  Susquehannah 
Indians. 

1st.  'Whether  major  Truman,  with  the  forces 
under  his  command,  was  at  the  north  side  of  Pis- 
cattoway  creek,  and  did  there  expect  and  meet  the 
Virginians. 

2d.  'Whether  the  said  major  consulted  with  his  of- 
ficers and  those  of  Virginia  afore  he  held  any  discourse 
or  treaty  with  the  Susquehannah  Indians  which  came 
out  of  the  fort ;  also,  whether  it  was  with  the  knowledge 
of  any  of  his  officers,  that  he  treated  and  endeavoured 
to  make  the  Susquehannahs  believe  he  intended  no 
harm  or  disturbance  to  them,  and  what  officers  or  others 
he  knowes  were  present  when  orders  were  given  by  the 
major  for  the  putting  those  great  men  to  death. 

3d.  'Whether  he  knows  that,  at  any  time,  the  of- 
ficers of  Virginia  did  desire  or  put  major  Truman  upon 
any  design  pressing  him  to  employ  his  soldiers  about 
or  upon  any  service  during  the  seige,  and  if  major  Tru- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS,  69 

man  did,  at  anytime,  execute  any  thing  at  their  request 
by  receiving  instructions  or  directions  from  them. 

4th.  'Whether  did  major  Truman  bid  the  Susque- 
hannahs  not  to  fear  him,  or  tell  them  that  he  came  only 
to  seek  the  Seneca's,  and  that  he  would  lodge  that 
night  hard  by  them,  and  use  that  as  an  argument  for 
them,  their  wives  and  children,  not  to  be  afraid,  or  that 
or  any  other  expression  to  that  effect. 

5th.  'What  writings,  articles  of  peace  or  amity  did 
the  said  Susquehannahs  ever  produce  to  major  Tru- 
man. 

6th,  'Did  the  said  Susquehannahs  ever  shew  a  medr 
doll  of  silver,  with  a  black  and  yellow  ribbond. 

7th.  'Did  they  shew  the  said  ribbond  and  meddall  as 
a  pledge  of  amity  given  them  by  the  former  governors 
of  this  province,  and  was  the  said  meddall  given  to 
major  Truman  or  any  other  Englishman,  or  was  it  car- 
ried back  again  into  the  fort, 

8th.  'Did  major  Truman  stay  at  the  north  side  of 
Pisscattoway  creek  till  the  Virginians  came  thither  to 
him,  or  did  he  there  treat  with  them  concerning  the 
management  of  the  warr  against  the  Susquehannahs. 

9th.  'Did  the  Susquehannahs  ever  after  offer  any 
treaty  of  peace,  or  desire  to  continue  friendship,  and 
whether  did  major  Truman  ever  demand  satisfaction 
from  them  for  any  injuries  done,  or  tell  them  they  were 
the  persons  which  we  suspected  had  injured  us.' 

*The  answer  of  John  Shanks  to  several  interrogato- 
ries put  to  him  by  the  upper  house. 

*This  deponent  saith  that  he,  with  the  Maryland 
forces,  being  at  the  fort  of  the  Susquehannahs  on  the 
Sabboth  day,  he  was  sent  up  to  the  fort  to  desire  one  of 
the  great  men,  by  name  Harignera,  to  come  and  speak 


70  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

with  major  Truman,  and  the  said  Harignera  being  dead, 
this  deponent  desired  some  other  great  men  to  come  and 
speak  with  the  said  major,  upon  which  message  of  his, 
there  came  out  three  or  four  of  them,  and  this  deponent 
was  commanded  by  the  major  to  tell  them  of  the  great 
injuries  that  had  been  done  to  the  country,  and  that  he 
came  to  know  who  they  were  that  had  done  them,  and 
the  great  men  replyed,  it  was  the  Senecas ;  and  this 
deponent  saith,  that  there  being  present  other  Indians 
from  other  towns,  the  major  desired  some  of  their  young 
men  to  assist  as  pilotes^  as  well  as  the  neighbouring  In- 
dians had  done,  to  join  in  pursuite  of  the  Senecas,  and 
the  said  Indians  replyed,  the  Senecas  had  been  gone 
four  days,  and  that,  by  that  time,  they  might  be  at  the 
head  of  Patapsico  river ;  to  which  major  Truman  re- 
turned, that  he  had  good  horses,  and  they  were  good 
footmen,  and  might  soon  overtake  them,  and  the  In- 
dians replyed,  that   they  would.     And  the  deponent 
further  saith,  that,  in  the  morning  following,  the  Sus- 
quehannahs'  great  men  being  at  the  place  of  meeting 
before  the  Marylanders  and  Virginians,  the  said  great 
men  were  taxed  again  by  the  Virginians  more  highly  of 
the  injuries  done  by  them  in  Maryland  and  Virginia, 
and  they  utterly  denyed  the   same.     And  thereupon, 
this  deponent  was  commanded  to  declare  to  them  that 
they  should  be  bound  ;  and  this  deponent  saith,  further, 
that  there  was  an  old  paper  and  a  meddall  shewed  by 
the  said  Indians,  with  a  black  and  yellow  ribbond  there- 
to, and  that  the  said  Indians  did  say,  the  first  day,  in 
the  evening  thereof,  that  the  same  was  a  pledge  given 
and  left  with  them  by  the  former  governors  as  a  token 
of  amity  and  friendship  as  long  as  the  sun  and  moon 
should  last.     And  this  deponent  saith,  to  the  best  of 


AXNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  ^^ 

his  remembrance,  all  the  Virginia  officers  were  present 
when  the  Indians  were  bound  ;  and  this  deponent  saith, 
that  the  first  night  of  meeting  with  the  Susquehannahs, 
he  was  ordered  to  declare  to  them  that  major  Truman 
did  believe  the  Senecas  had  done  the  mischief,  and  not 
they,  and  that  he  was  well  satisfied  therein.' 

'Sattubday,  May  the  20th,  1676. 

*The  house  met. 

'Touching  the  murder  of  the  Susquehannah  Indians, 
captain  John  Allen  being  sworn  and  examined,  saith, 
that  about  the  25th  or  26th  day  of  September,  on  Sun- 
day morning,  the  Maryland  forces  appeared  before  the 
fort,  under  the  command  of  major  Truman,  who,  send- 
ing Hugh  French  and  another  to  the  fort,  there  came 
out  two  or  three  of  the  Indians,  and  more  afterwards  to 
the  number  of  thirty  or  forty,  and  the  major  examined 
them  concerning  the  mischief  that  was  done  to  Mr. 
Hanson  and  others,  and  if  they  knew  what  Indians  they 
were,  and  they  told  them  it  was  the  Senecas.  During 
which  discourse  between  the  major  and  them,  came 
over  colonel  Washington,  colonel  Mason,  and  major 
Adderton,  and  they  likewise  taxed  them  with  the  mur- 
ders done  on  their  side  by  them,  but  they  made  the 
same  reply  as  to  major  Truman,  that  it  was  none  of 
them ;  so,  when  they  saw  they  could  get  nothing  out 
of  them,  then  they  made  it  appear  that  three  of  the  said 
Susquehannah  Indians  were  they  that  did  the  murders 
on  the  other  side.  On  Munday  morning  early,  the  ma- 
jor commanded  Mr.  Coad  and  two  or  three  ranks  of 
men,  whereof  himself  was  one,  to  go  to  the  house  of 
Mr.  Randolph  Hanson,  to  see  if  the  Indians  had  plun- 
dered it,  and,  if  they  found  any  ammunition,  to  bring  it 


njprf 


72  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 


away ;  which,  accordingly,  they  did  ;  and  after  return 
back  to  the  fort,  the  deponent  saw  six  Indians  guarded 
with  the  Marylanders  and  Virginians,  and  the  major, 
with  the  Virginia  officers,  sitting  upon  a  tree  some  dis- 
tance from  thera  ;  and,  after  some  while,  they  all  rose 
and  came  towards  the  Indians,  and  caused  them  to  be 
bound ;  and  after  some  time,  they  talked  again,  and 
the  Virginia  officers  would  have  knocked  them  on  the 
head  in  the  place  presently,  and  particularly,  colonel 
Washington  said,  what  should  wis  keep  them  any  long- 
er— let  us  knock  them  on  the  head— ^we  shall  gett  the 
fort  to-day.  But  the  deponent  saith,  the  major  would 
not  admitt  of  it,  but  was  overswayed  by  Virginia  offi- 
cers. And,  after  further  discourse,  the  said  Indians 
were  carried  forth  from  the  place  where  they  were 
bound,  and  they  knocked  them  on  the  head. 

'Colonel  Samuel  Chew  and  colonel  Jesse  Wharton 
sent  to  desire  the  lower  house  to  acquaint  this  house 
whether  they  have  drawn  up  any  thing  by  way  of  im- 
peachment of  major  Thomas  Truman,  and  that  they 
would  please  to  signifie  the  same  to  this  house  by  a 
member  of  their  own  house.' 

'Monday  Morning,  May  the  22d. 

'The  house  met. 

'Colonel  William  Burgess,  Mr*  Robert  Carville,  Mr. 
Kenelm  Chiseledine,  Mr.  William  Stephens,  &c. 
brought  in  an  impeachment  against  major  Thomas 
Truman,  with  several  depositions  relating  thereto, 
which  impeachment  is  as  follows : 

'To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Proprietary  of 
the  Province  of  Maryland,  and  Avalon,  Lord  Baron  of 
Baltimore,  &c. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  73 

^Articles  against  major  Thomas  Truman,  exhibited 
by  the  lower  house  of  assembly  to  the  right  honourable 
the  Lord  Proprietary,  and  upper  house  of  assembly. 

'We,  your  lordship's  most  humble,  true,  faithfuU  and 
obedient  people,  the  burgesses  and  delegates  in  your 
lower  house  of  assembly,  being  constrained,  by  neces* 
sity  of  our  fidelity  and  conscience,  in  vindication  of  the 
honour  of  God,  and  the  honour  and  welfare  of  your 
lordship  and  this  province,  do  complain  and  shew  that 
the  said  major  Thomas  Truman,  late  commander-in- 
chief  upon  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  at  the 
Susquehannah  forte,  hath,  by  many  and  sundry  ways 
and  means,  committed  divers  and  sundry  enormous 
crimes  and  offences,  to  the  dishonour  of  Almighty  God, 
against  the  laws  of  nations,  contrary  to  your  lordship's 
commission  and  instructions,  and  to  the  great  endan- 
gering of  your  lordship's  peace,  and  the  good  and  safety 
of  your  lordship's  province,  according  to  the  articles 
hereafter  mentioned,  that  is  to  say  : 

'We  find,  upon  reading  your  lordship's  commission 
and  instructions,  and  the  affidavits  which  we  herewith 
send  to  your  lordship  and  upper  house  of  assembly,  and 
which  we  humbly  submitt  to  your  lordship's  examina- 
tion and  serious  consideration. 

'The  first.  That  the  said  major  Truman  hath  broken 
his  commission  and  instructions  thus  :  that  the  said  ma- 
jor Thomas  Truman  having  received  six  Indians  sent 
out  by  the  Susquehannahs  as  embassadors  to  treat  with 
him  on  the  Sunday  after  the  arrival  of  the  Maryland 
forces,  and  received  their  paper  and  meddaM,  by  which 
we  find  they  were  received  as  friends,  and  in  amity  with 
us,  and  had  liberty  of  going  back  to  the  fort,  and  were 
assured  that  no  intention  of  force  was  to.be  used  against 
7 


74  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

them,  and  that  no  damage  should  be  done  to  them,  their 
wives,  or  children,  and  that  they  did,  that  night,  go 
into  the  forte,  and  the  next  morning  did  return  again 
with  the  like  number,  only  one  Indian  changed,  and 
supposed  to  come  on  purpose  to  treat,  and  not  in  any 
hostile  manner,  yet  the  said  major  Thomas  Truman, 
without  calling  any  council  of  warr  of  your  lordship's 
officers  under  his  command,  as  he  ought  to  have  done, 
did,  in  a  barbarous  and  cruel  manner,  cause  five  of  the 
said  Indians  to  be  killed  and  murdered,  contrary  to  the 
law  of  God  and  nations,  and  contrary  to  your  lordship's 
commission  and  instructions. 

'Secondly.  That  he,  the  said  major  Thomas  Truman, 
ought,  according  to  your  lordship's  instructions,  to  have 
acquainted  your  lordship  before  he  caused  the  said  In- 
dians to  be  executed,  for  your  lordship's  advice  and 
directions  in  that  case,  which  we   do  not  find  he  did. 

'Lastly.  That  he  hath  broken  your  lordship's  instruc- 
tions in  this  also,  that  that.,  if  the  Virginia  officers  did 
advise  and  consent  to  the  killing  of  the  said  Indians, 
that  he  did  not,  in  an  open  council  of  warr,  cause  the 
same  to  be  judiciously  entered  in  writing  by  his  clerk 
or  secretary,  and  such  the  Virginians  consent  and  desire 
for  the  doing  thereof,  to  be  signed  under  their  hands,  to 
be  kept  for  justification  of  himself  and  the  people  of  this 
province. 

'Therefore,  for  that,  by  the  said  articles,  it  appears 
that  the  said  major  Thomas  Truman  hath  broken  his 
commission  and  instructions  in  murdering  the  said  In- 
dians, to  th'e  dishonour  of  God,  and  your  lordship  and 
this  province.  They  humbly  pray  that  your  lordship 
and  upper  house  of  assembly  will  take  such  order  with 
the  said  major  Thomas  Truman  as  may  be  just  and  rea- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  79 

sonable,  in  terror  of  others  to  beware  of  such  offences 
against  your  lordship  for  the  future.  And  your  lord- 
ship's most  humble  and  obedient  servants,  as  in  all  duty 
bound,  shall  daily  pray  for  your  lordship's  long  and 
happy  dominion  over  us,'  &c. 

'Lower  House,  May  the  22d,  1676. 

'The  committee,  having  drawn  up  the  above  im- 
peachment against  major  Thomas  Truman,  and  pre- 
senting to  this  house  for  their  further  consideration,  put 
to  the  vote,  whether  the  said  impeachment  shall  be 
transmitted  to  the  upper  house  as  the  commitlee  hav^ 
drawn  it,  yea  or  noe. 

'Voted,  that  it  be  transmitted  to  his  lordship  and  up- 
per house,  as  it  is  drawn  by  the  committee,  together 
with  all  the  depositions  relating  thereto  annexed  to  it. 

'Signed  by  order  of  the  lower  house, 

'Robert  Ridgely,  Clerk.'' 

'Upper  House,  26/A  May,  1676. 

'Ordered,  that  the  honourable  secretary  be  requested 
to  acquaint  major  Thomas  Truman  that  his  witnesses 
cannot  be  sworn  by  this  house  to-night. 

'To-morrow  morning  being  the  day  appointed  for  the 
tryall  of  major  Thomas  Truman,  impeached  by  the 
lower  house,  this  house  desire  to  know  of  the  lower 
house  how  they  intend  to  proceed  against  the  said 
Truman,  and  that  they  will  send  their  vote  to  this  house 
this  night,  with  the  names  of  the  persons  who  they  in- 
tend shall  manage  that  affair.' 

'Lower  House,  2Qth  May. 
'Ordered,  that  the  attorney- general,  Mr.  Robert  Car- 
vile,  colonel  William -Burgess,  and  Mr,  William  Ste- 


76  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

phens  manage  the  impeachment  against  major  Thomas 
Truman,  at  his  tryall. 

'The  lower  house  desiring  that  the  original  impeach- 
ment against  major  Thomas  Truman,  with  the  original 
depositions,  may  be  put  in  the  hands  of  such  persons 
as  the  lower  house  have  voted  to  manage  the  said 
impeachment. 

*The  honorable  secretary,  by  order  of  this  house,  did 
go  down  with  the  said  impeachment  and  depositions.* 

'On  Saturday,  May  27th,  the  house  met  in  the  after- 
noon.    , 

♦  'Present,  The  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Proprie- 
tary, the  honourable  Chancellor  and  Secretary,  colonel 
Samuel  Chew,  colonel  Jesse  Wharton,  and  colonel 
Thomas  Taillor.  * 

'Major  Thomas  Truman  having  due  notice  given 
him  on  Thursday  last  to  prepare  for  his  tryall,  this  af- 
ternoon being  called,  did  make  his  appearance,  and  the 
articles  of  impeachment  against  the  said  major  Thomas 
Truman  being  read,  and  after  this,  the  several  deposi- 
tions annexed  thereto,  which,  also,  were  sworn  to  by 
the  several  and  respective  deponents  in  the  presence 
and  the  hearing  of  the  said  major  Thomas  Truman,  Mr. 
Kenelm  Chisledine,  his  lordship's  attorney-general,  Mr. 
Robert  Carvile,  colonel  William  Burgess,  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Stephens,  according  to  a  preceding  order  of  the 
lower  house,  did  manage  the  said  impeachment,  and 
urge  the  several  evidences  against  the  said  major  Tru- 
man, and  the  said  major,  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Rozier,  his 
council  assigned  him,  did  confess  the  same,  and  de- 
clared that  the  said  major  did  no  way  intend  to  stand 
upon  his  justification  ;  after  which  confession  and  de- 
claration, the  said  major,  by  his  said  council,  did  hum- 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  77 

bly  pray  that  this  house  would  admitt  the  yeading  of  a 
certain  paper  which  the  said  major  said  he  hoped  would 
somewhat  extenuate  and  mitigate  the  crimes  before  by 
him  confessed,  so  that  they  should  not  appear  so  griev- 
ous and  enormous  as  in  the  said  impeachment  they  were 
held  forth  to  be ;  and  the  said  major  Thomas  Truman, 
by  his  said  council,  was,  admitted  to  make  his  defence* 

'Whereupon,  and  upon  full  hearing  on  both  sides, 
and  after  reading  of  the  said  major's  commission  and 
instructions  from  his  lordship  and  council,  was  put  the 
question,  whether  major  Thomas  Truman  be  guilty  of 
the  impeachment  exhibited  against  him  by  the  lower 
house,  and  voted,  nemine  coniradicente,  that  the  said 
major  Thomas  Truman  is  guilty  of  the  first  article  of 
the  impeachment  for  commanding  five  of  the  said  Sus- 
quehannahs  that  came  out  to  treat  with  them,  to  be  put 
to  death,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  nations,  and  the  second 
article  of  his  instructions,  by  which  he  was  ordered  ta 
entertain  any  treaty  with  the  said  Susquehannahs. 

'Upon  which  vote,  it  was  ordered  that  a  messenger 
be  sent  from  this  house  to  the  lower  house,  to  desire 
them  to  draw  up  a  bill  of  attainder  against  the  said 
major  Thomas  Truman. 

'Ordered,  that  Philip  Saunders  be  sent  for,  to  attend 
this  house  in  pursuance  to  a  petition  exhibited  by  major 
Truman  for  that  purpose.* 

'Upper  House  of  Assembly,  June  1st,  1676. 
'Then  was  taken  into  consideration  the  bill  of  attain- 
der of  major  Thomas  Triunan,  sent  up  from  the  lower 
house  yesterday,  and  upon  serious  consideration  thereof 
and  debate  thereupon,  this  house  do  judge  that  the  act 
drawn  up  against  major  Thomas  Truman  does,  in  na 
7* 


78  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

ways,  answer  or  justifie  the  impeachment  upon  which 
it  was  grounded,  for  that,  in  the  said  impeachment,  the 
said  Truman  stands  charged  of  crimes  committed 
against  the  laws  of  God,  nations,  this  province,  as  also 
against  the  commission  and  instructions  given  him, 
viz:  'for  the  barbarous  cruelty  in  causing  to  be  put  to 
death  and  murdering  the  five  Indians,  of  which  he  being 
found  guilty,  the  punishment  prescribed  and  assigned 
in  the  said  act  of  attainder,  does  no  ways  agree  with, 
or  answer  the  nature  of  that  defence,  it  being  greatly 
dishonourable,  as  well  as  unsafe  and  dangerous  to  lay 
any  fine  in  such  cases,  and  where  such  horrid  crimes 
have  been  committed.' 

*That  the  lower  house  of  assembly  having  laid  the 
impeachment  soehigh,  (thought,  as  it  is  conceived,)  no 
higher  then  the  nature  of  the  crime  well  deserved  ;  it 
will  be  much  wondered  by  those  who  shall  hear  and 
view  our  proceedings  thereon,  what  shall  be  the  cause 
why  the  same  hath  been  past  over  with  so  slender  and 
slight  a  punishment,  being  no  more  than  what  crimes 
of  a  more  inferior  nature  might  have  deserved.  That, 
by  this  act  of  attainder,  the  government  will  not  suffi- 
ciently be  cleared,  nor  have  it  made  appear  to  the 
world,  how  much  the  wickedness  of  that  action  is  de- 
tested and  disowned  by  us ;  nor  in  any  sort  will  the 
lower  house  of  assembly  make  out  that  great  sense 
which,  in  their  impeachment,  they  have  expressed  to 
have  of  that  action. 

'And  which  very  much  concerns  the  interest  and 
safety  of  the  government,  it  will  not  give  any  satisfac- 
tion to  the  heathens,  with  whom  the  publick  faith  hath 
been  broke,  and  untill  such  actions  are  in  a  more  pub- 
lic manner  disowned,  that  the  Indians  may  take  notice 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  79 

thereof.  It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  any  faith  or 
credit  will  be  given  to  any  treaties  we  shall  have  with 
them  which,  in  this  dangerous  juncture  of  affairs,  the 
country  will  stand  in  need  of,  and  on  which  we  must, 
in  some  measure,  depend  on,  as  the  lower  house  of  as- 
sembly were  of  opinion  when  they  sent  the  paper  iji 
answer  to  captain  John  Allen's  longer  ranging. 

'That,  if  crimes  of  so  high  a  nature  shall  deserve  no 
greater  punishment  than  what  is  inflicted  by  that  act, 
offences  of  a  lower  nature  will  not  require  any,  and  by 
this  means,  and  through  such  proceedings  as  these,  no 
commissions,  instructions,  powers  and  directions  for 
the  future,  will  ever  be  observed,  and  to  no  purpose 
will  it  be  to  think  to  tye  up  an  officer  by  such  hereafter, 
and  so  •  all  authority  will  become  ridiculous  and  con- 
temptible. In  fine,  by  this  act  the  lower  house  of  as- 
sembly will  have  owned  the  actions  of  the  said  Truman 
more  then  (as  they  thought  to  have  done)  detested  and 
abhorred  them,  and  so  render  the  government  odious 
to  all  people  that  shall  become  acquainted  with  the  pro- 
ceedings.* 

'Lower  House,  2d  June,  1676. 

'This  paper  being  read  in  the  lower  house,  and  the 
debate  re-assumed  in  this  house,  touching  the  said  bill 
of  attainder,  and  voted,  nemine  contradicente,  that  the 
said  major  Truman,  for  his  crime,  does  not  deserve 
death,  in  regard  that  several  circumstances  that  ap- 
peared at  his  tryall,  extenuate  his  crime  very  much,  as 
the  unanimous  consent  of  the  Virginians  and  the  eager 
impetuosity  of  the  whole  field,  as  well  Marylanders  as 
Vu-ginians,  upon  the  sight  of  the  christians  murdered 
at  Mr.  Hinson's,  and  them  very  Indians  that  were  there 
killed,  being  proved  to  be  murderers,  both  of  them  and 


80  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

several  other  christians  ;  and  in  regard,  also,  that  it 
appears  to  this  house,  that  the  said  crime  was  not  ma- 
liciously perpetrated,  or  out  of  any  design  to  prejudice 
the  province,  but  meerely  out  of  ignorance,  and  to  pre- 
vent a  mutiny  of  the  whole  army,  as  well  Virginians  as 
Mary  landers ;  wherefore,  this  house  do  not  think  fitt  to 
recede  from  their  former  vote.' 

*Upper  House,  June  2dj  1676. 

'In  pursuance  to  the  paper  from  the  lower  house, 
read  the  2d  of  June,  touching  the  bill  entituled  an  act 
of  attainder,  his  lordship  and  this  house  do  conceive  it 
not  safe  for  them  to  vote  the  killing  of  the  five  Susque- 
hannah  embassadors  no  murther,  for  to  them  and  all  the 
world,  it  would  and  will  certainly  appear  the  greatest 
that  ever  hath  been  committed. 

'That  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  Virginians  (if 
true)  does  no  ways  alter  the  nature  of  the  crime,  nor 
since  the  said  Truman  had  instructions  plain  enough  to 
have  made  him  abhorred  and  abominated  so  black  an 
action,  can  as  little  serve  for  an  extenuation  thereof; 
and  whereas,  in  the  said  paper,  for  a  further  extenua- 
tion, it  is  signified  that  the  said  major,  to  prevent  a 
mutiny  of  the  whole  army,  was  compelled  and  drawn  to 
that  action,  this  house  are  of  another  opinion ;  for,  at 
the  said  Truman's  tryall,  did  too  plainly  appear  that  his 
first  commands  for  the  killing  of  those  Indians  were  not 
obeyed,  and  that  he  had  some  difficulty  to  get  his  men 
to  obey  him  therein,  and  that  after  they  were  putt  to 
death,  not  a  man  would  own  to  have  had  a  hand  in  it, 
but  rather  seemed  to  abhorr  the  act,  which,  untill  now, 
hath  been  termed  by  all  persons,  those  that  were  exe- 
cutioners only  excepted,  the  most  execrable  of  mur- 
thers. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  81 

'That  the  crime  was  not  maliciously  perpetrated  as 
to  authority,  this  house  doth  believe.  But  that  it  was 
done  treacherously,  and  that  in  it  a  great  and  unheard- 
of  wickedness  was  committed,  by  the  lower  house,  can- 
not be  denyed.  And  whether,  by  that  action,  the  pro- 
vince will  not  be  prejudiced,  and  many  English  mur- 
dered, his  lordship  and  this  house  leaves  to  the  further 
consideration  of  the  lower  house,  no  way  pressing  them 
to  recede  from  their  so  positive  vote,  only  desiring  them 
that  they  will  take  notice  that  what  is  now  undone  lyes 
at  their  doors,  and  not  with  us  who  are  positive  in  this, 
that  his  lordship  and  upper  house  dare  not,  and  there- 
fore resolved,  not  to  proceed  upon  an  act  which  only 
bears  the  title  of  an  act  of  attainder.' 

'Upper  House,  June  10/A,  1676. 
'This  house,  upon  perusall  of  their  own  journal,  do 
find  that  this  house  did  not  referr  it  to  the  consideration 
of  the  lower  house,  what  punishment  major  Truman 
deserved,  but  ordered  that  ajpessage  should  be  sent  to 
the  lowfer  house  to  desire  them  to  draw  up  a  bill  of  at- 
tainder against  the  said  Truman,  (which,  when  the 
lower  house  shall  think  fitt  to  draw  up,)  this  house,  as 
in  the  last  paper  they  promised,  will  proceed  upon.' 

'Lower  House,  Jane  12th,  1676. 
'Touching  that  message  received  from  the  upper 
house  on  Saturday,  in  relation  to  major  Thomas  Tru- 
man, this  house  do  say,  that  in  desiring  them  to  draw 
up  a  bill  of  attainder  against  major  Truman,  implies 
they  were  to  consider  not  only  of  his  crime,  but  his  pun- 
ishment also  ;  and,  therefore,  desire  that  his  lordship 
would  be  pleased  to  send  an  answer  of  this  house's  pe- 


S»  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

tition*  to  his  lordship,  in  behalf  of  the  said  Truman, 
and  to  pass  this  bill  of  attainder  as  it  is  drawn  in  this 
house. 

*This  house  conceiving  it  is  their  undoubted  privi- 
lege not  only  to  consider  of  his  crime,  but  punishment.' 

'Upper  House,  June  12th,  1676. 
'In  answer  to  the  paper  received  from  the  lower 
house,  dated  the  12th  instant,  relating  to. major  Tho- 
mas Truman,  this  house  do  say,  that  the  bill  is  only 
an  attainder  in  the  title,  not  in  the  body  of  the  act. 
That  this  house  cannot  consent  to  inflict  a  pecuniary 
punishment  upon  a  person  who  hath  been  accused  by 
the  lower  house  of  murder,  and  by  this  house  found 
guilty  of  the  same ;  and  do  further  say  that  it  is  against 
the  priviledges  of  this  house  to  press  this  bill  upon  them 
any  further.' 

Here  end  the  proceedings  of  the  assembly  in  regard 
to  this  subject.  On  reference  to  an  order  a  few  pages 
back,  it  will  be  found  th^  Philip  Saunders  was  sum- 
moned to  attend  the  assembly,  on  the  petition  of  major 
Truman.  What  new  light  Mr.  Saunders  was  able  to 
throw  on  the  matter,  favorable  to  major  Truman,  our 
records  do  not  inform  us ;  but  we  may  safely  infer  that 
it  was  of  a  nature  calculated  to  produce  the  'unanimous 
decision  of  the  lower  house,'  that  major  Truman,  though 
guilty  of  the  charge  alleged  against  him,  was  not  de- 
serving of  capital  punishment,  from  the  facts  brought 
before  them,  of  an  extenuating  character. 

g  At  the  meeting  of  the  assembly  in  August  of 

this  year,  on  calling  the  lower  house,  there  ap- 

*  This  petition  is  not  entered  on  the  journals  of  the  upper  house,  or 
it  would  have  appeared  in  its  proper  place  among  these  extracts.  The 
jouraals  of  the  lower  house,  for  this  period,  are  lost. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  83 

peared  twelve  vacancies.  The  lower  house  immedi- 
ately presented  an  address  to  the  Lord  Proprietary,  sta- 
ting this  fact,  and  requested  that  his  lordship  would 
appoint  some  officer  to  whom  the  speaker  of  their  house 
might  direct  his  warrants  to  cause  the  said  vacancies  to 
be  filled  ;  until  which,  'they  humbly  conceived  them- 
selves greatly  incapacitated  to  act  and  do  proportiona- 
ble to  the  great  trust  reposed  in  them,  and  sufficiently 
to  consult  the  grand  and  weighty  affairs  of  the  pro- 
vince.' They  also  remonstrated  against  his  lordship 
having  called  but  two  members  from  each  county,  at 
the  present  session,  when  four  should  have  been  called 
from  each,  according  to  law  and  custom  in  the  pre- 
mises. 

His  lordship  sent  a  message  to  the  lower  house, 
desiring  their  presence.  On  entering  the  upper  house, 
the  Lord  Proprietary  said,  'that  by  his  proclamation  by 
which  they  were  now  called,  the  law  for  four  delegates 
is  sufficiently  disassented  to,  and  that,  otherwise,  he 
would  gratify  their  request  in  issuing  out  writts  for  fill- 
ing up  vacancies  :'  and  the  lower  house  was  requested 
to  unite  with  the  upper  house,  with  the  members  then 
present,  and  to  proceed  to  the  transaction  of  the  busi- 
ness of  the  province. 

The  lower  house  still  hesitating  to  enter  upon  the 
'great  and  weighty  affairs'  for  which  they  were  con- 
vened, his  lordship  consented  that  writs  might  be 
issued  for  supplying  the  vacancies  for  the  present,  pro- 
vided the  lower  house  would  acknowledge  it  as  a  favor 
from  his  lordship,  and  so  enter  it  upon  their  journals. 

The  lower  house  consented  to  make  such  an  entry 
upon  their  journals,  and  to  agree  to  two  members  being 
elected  from  each  county,  instead  of  four,  provided  his 


84  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

lordship  would  consent  that  the  speaker  of  their  house 
should,  in  all  future  vacancies,  have  the  authority  to 
send  his  warrant  to  the  secretary  of  the  province,  to 
issue  out  writs  to  fill  all  vacancies  which  might  occur 
by  death  or  otherwise,  and  stated  their  unanimous  reso- 
lution *to  stand  to  and  not  to  recede  from  the  substance 
of  their  address,'  and  the  right  of  their  speaker  to  issue 
his  warrants  in  case  of  vacancies  ;  and  that  they  had  ^ 
*made  all  the  condesentions  they  can,  without  apparent 
violating  their  priviledges,'  and  hoped  that  the  upper 
house  would  concur  therein. 

The  upper  house  objected  to  grant  the  authority  de- 
sired, for  the  speaker  to  send  out  his  warrants  of  elec- 
tion, which  they  conceived,  ^aimed  at  things  wholly 
new  and  unheard  of  in  this  province.' 

The  lower  house  responded  to  the  last  message, 
viewing  it  as  a  'denyal  of  the  just  and  reasonable  pro- 
posalls  of  this  house  for  the  future  election  of  deputies,' 
&c.  and  passed  a  unanimous  vote,  'that  it  was  the  un- 
doubted priviledge  of  this  house,  that  the  speaker  of 
this  house  issue  his  warrants,'  &c.  and  considered  it  'a 
very  unsafe,  ill  precedent  to  proceed  any  further  in  the 
business  of  the  session,  and  requested  his  lordship  to 
appoint  some  person  to  whom  said  warrants  should  be 
directed.' 

The  chancellor  is  thereon  sent  by  his  lordship  to  the 
lower  house,  to  acquaint  them  'that  he  cannot  but  won- 
der how  the  lower  house  of  assembly  assume  to  them- 
selves a  power  here  that  is  not  only  new  to  us,  and  un- 
heard of  before  in  this  province,  but  not  practiced  in 
Virginia,  Barbadoes,  or  any  other  of  his  majesties  plan- 
tations,' &c. 

*His  majesty  hath  the  sole  power  to  dispose  of  his 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  85 

conquests  upon  terms  he  pleases,  &c.'  and  desired  to 
know  their  positive  answer,  whether  they  would  join 
them  in  the  dispatch  of  business,  promising  if  they 
•would,  he  would  immediately  issue  writs  to  fiU  up  the 
house  with  four  delegates  from  each  county. 

The  lower  house  resolved,  that  if  his  lordship  caused 
writs  to  issue  as  promised,  that  they  would  'proceed  upon 
such  matters  as  shall  be  recommended  to  them  from  his 
lordship.'  But  at  the  same  time,  they  asserted  'their 
rights  and  privileges,  rather  from  the  rules  of  England 
than  the  imperfect  proceedings  of  the  nominated  colo- 
nies, the  first  being  our  inherent  right — yea,  and  birth* 
right,  though  born  in  this  province.'  v 

'To  liken  us  to  a  conquered  people,  we  take  very 
heavily,  and  wish  we  had  not  heard,  and  do  wonder  it 
should  pass  the  upper  house.  But,  if  the  word  conquest 
intends  that  we  are  subjects  to  arbitrary  laws  and  impo- 
sitions, then  we  humbly  take  leave  to  believe  that  they 
are  not  his  lordship's  words,  but  the  result  of  strange, 
if  not  evill  council.' 

'That  his  majesty  has  reserved  for  us  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  Englishmen,  is  that  we  insist  upon.'* 

•  At  a  later  period,  the  house  of  delegates  passed  the  following  reso- 
lution.— See  Journal  of  the  fiouse,  1722,  page  2. 

'Resolved,  That  this  province  is  not  under  the  circumstances  of  a 
conquer'd  country  ;  that,  if  it  were,  the  present  christian  inhabitants 
thereof  would  be  in  the  circumstances,  not  of  the  conquer'd,  but  of 
the  conquerors,  it  being  a  colony  of  the  English  nation,  encouraged  by 
the  crown  to  transplant  themselves  hither  for  the  sake  of  improving 
and  enlarging  its  dominions,  which,  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  their 
endeavours,  at  their  own  expense  and  labour,  has  been,  in  great  mea- 
sure, obtained.  And  'tis  unanimously  resolved.  That  whoever  shall 
advance  that  his  majestie's  subjects,  by  their  endeavors  and  success, 
have  forfeited  any  part  of  their  English  liberties,  are  ill-wishers  to  the 
country,  and  mistake  its  happy  constitution.' 

8 


$6  ANNALS    Of    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  Lord  Proprietary,  in  reply  to  the  last  message 
from  the  lower  house,  disclaims  any  intention  to  liken 
the  freemen  of  Maryland  to  a  conquered  people,  or  sub- 
ject to  arbitrary  laws  or  impositions,  and  hopes  that  they 
may  no  w^ay  deserve  that  severe  reflection,  and  assures 
them  that  he  had  always  'been  ready  to  oblige  and  shew 
his  kindness  to  the  good  people  of  this  province  ;'  and, 
as  a  further  testimony  of  it,  states  his  willingness  to 
issue  writs  as  desired,  if  the  lower  house  will  ask  it  of 
him  'as  a  thing  that  will  oblige  (at  this  time)  the  inha- 
bitants of  this  province,  of  whom  they  are  the  repre- 
sentatives,' &c. 

The  lower  house  accordingly  made  the  request,  sta- 
ting their  willingness  'to  leave  off  all  disputations  about 
words,'  saying,  it  'will  be  matter  of  great  content  and 
rejoyceing  to  the  good  people  of  this  province,'  &c. 

Thus  ended  this  controversy  between  his  lordship 
and  the  freemen*  of  the  province,  who  shewed  them- 
selves the  worthy  ancestors  of  the  Maryland  patriots  of 
1776.  Throughout  the  whole  legislative  proceedings 
of  this  province,  the  representatives  of  the  people  are 
found  to  be  the  firm  and  unyielding  supporters  of  civil 
liberty,  and  no  one  instance  is  found  upon  their  records, 
of  their  having  ever  been  guilty  of  timidity  or  treachery 
in  regard  to  their  own  rights  and  privileges,  or  the 
interests  of  their  constituents. 

ifiS^        The  following  extracts   are  taken   from  the 
rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the 
lower  house  of  assembly  of  this  year. 

•'The  freemen  of  Maryland,  as  they  were  called,  were  emphatically 
so  from  their  origin.  They  never  permitted  the  Proprietary  to  en- 
trench upon  what  they  conceived  to  be  their  rights ;  and  the  records 
of  this  period  furnish  many  instances  in  which  they  opposed  and 
defeated  the  designs  of  the  Proprietaries.' — McMahorCs  History  of 
Maryland,  vol,  1,  page  222. 


"ki 


"ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  ^^ 

'That  noe  one  shall  come  into  the  house  of  assembly 
whilst  the  house  is  sitting,  with  a  sword  or  other  wea- 
pon, but  shall  put  the  same  into  the  hands  of  the  door- 
keeper or  other  person  appoynted  thereto,  upon  penalty 
of  a  fine,'  &c. 

'That  noe  deputy,  burgess,  delegate  or  clerk,  during 
this  session  of  assembly,  will  be  suffered  to  smoke  to- 
bacco in  the  house,  whilst  the  house  is  sitting,  upon 
penalty  of  being  fined  or  censured,'  &c. 

In  1683  Annapolis  was  erected  into  a  town,  port, 
and  place  of  trade,  under  the  name  of  the  'Town 
Land  at  Proctors.' 

_-„  .  In  1694  it  was  constituted  a  town,  port,  and 
place  of  trade,  under  the  name  of  'Anne  Arun- 
del Town,'  and  made  the  place  of  residence  of  the 
collector  of  the  district,  the  naval-officer,  and  their 
deputies,  <for  the  dispatch  of  shipping.' 

In  the  same  year  major  John  Hammond,  major  Dor- 
sey,  Mr.  John  Bennett,  Mr.  John  Dorsey,  Mr.  Andrew 
Norwood,  Mr.  Philip  Howard,  Mr.  James  Saunders, 
and  Nicholas  Greenberry,  Esquire,  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  survey  and  lay  out  the  said  town 
into  lots,  streets  and  lanes ;  also  a  town-common  or 
pasture,  to  be  fenced  in  at  the  public  charge  within 
Leavy-J^eck  Cove,  and  Jictoii's  Cove ;  and  which  are 
the  coves  or  heads  of  the  two  creeks,  now  known  as 
Brewer'' s  and  Spa  Coves. 

In  this  year,  1694,  the  seat  of  government,  which 
had  been  at  the  city  of  St.  Mary's  from  the  earliest 
formation  of  the  province,  was  by  an  act  of  assembly 
removed.  And  the  place  selected  as  the  new  site  of 
the  government,  was  a  point  of  land  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Severn  river,  as  above  stated,  called  ^Proctors,''  or 


I 


Ob  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

*  The  Town  land  at  Severn,''  afterwards  known  as  the 
'■Town  at  Proctors.''  At  the  period  of  its  selection  as 
the  future  seat  of  government,  it  was  described  as 

*  The  Town  land  at  Severn,  where  the  town  was  formerly  ; 
and  as  preliminary  to  the  removal,  it  was  erected  into 
a  port  of  entry  and  discharge,  for  the  commerce  of  the 
province,  under  the  name  of  *^nne  Arundel  Town^ 
and  for  the  holding  of  the  meetings  of  the  general  as- 
sembly and  provincial  courts. 

In  February  of  this  year,  (1694)  Francis  Nicholson, 
Esquire,  governor,  met  in  council  at  the  court-house  at 
Anne  Arundel  Town,  and  issued  an  order  for  the  're- 
moval of  the  records  from  the  city  of  St.  Mary's  to 
Anne  Arundel  Town,  to  be  conveyed  in  good  strong 
bags,  and  to  be  secured  with  cordage  and  hides,  and 
well  packed — with  guards  to  attend  them  night  and 
day,  to  be  protected  from  all  accidents,  and  to  be  de- 
livered to  the  sherrifF  of  Anne  Arundel  county,  at  Anne 
Arundel  Town.' 

The  final  removal  of  these  from  St.  Mary's,  took 
place  in  the  winter  of  1694 — 1695.  And  the  first  as- 
sembly was  held  at  Anne  Arundel  Town,  on  the  28th 
of  February,  1694,  (old  style.)  At  the  next  session, 
it  acquired  the  name  of  the  ^Port  of  Annapolis,^  and 
became  the  place  of  sessions  for  the  courts  of  Anne 
Arundel  county. 

^„Q_  In  this  year  it  was  enacted  by  the  general 
assembly  that  there  be  one  or  more  places  laid 
out  and  reserved  for  ship  yards.  That  the  naval-officer 
reside  there ;  and  that  Anne  Arundel  Town  for  the 
future,  should  be  called,  known  and  distinguished  by 
the  name  of  ^Annapolis.'' 

At  the  session  of  assembly  held  in  this  same  year, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  89 

(1695)  it  was  voted,  'that  a  publique  ferry  be  kept 
upon  SeA'ern  river  at  Annapolis,  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  publique.'  Allen  Robinett  was  appointed 
the  keeper  of  the  ferry,  was  required  to  reside  in  An- 
napolis, and  for  his  services  received  nine  thousand 
pounds  of  tobacco  per  annum,  out  of  the  publique 
revenue. 

In  1696,  an  act  of  assembly  was  passed  for 
'keeping  good  rules  and  orders'  in  the  town  of 
Annapolis  ;  and  his  excellency  Francis  Nicholson,  the 
honourable  Sir  ^horaas  Lawrence,  the  honourable 
Nicholas  Greenberry,  the  honourable  Thomas  Tench, 
major  John  Hammond,  major  Edward  Dorsey,  Mr. 
James  Saunders  and  captain  Richard  Hill,  or  any  five 
of  them,  were  made  the  body  corporate  for  the  said 
town. 

By  the  same  act  governor  Nicholson  was  presented 
with  a  lot  of  land  within  the  town  common,  'for  plant- 
ing or  making  a  garden,  vineyard  and  summer  house.'* 

It  also  appears  from  the  same  act,  that  a  'Mr.  Richard 
Beard,  gentle^ian,'  had  made  a  map  or  plot  of  the 
town.  9^ 

The  above  named  commissioners  were  authorized  to 
erect  and  constitute  a  market,  to  be  held  once  a  week, 
and  a  fair  once  every  year ;  and  a  new  state-house  di- 
rected to  be  built.  At  the  same  session  it  was  pro- 
posed to  have  a  'Bridewell,  if  any  person  would  under- 

*  The  land  surveyed  for  and  presented  to  governor  Nicholson  by 
this  act,  comprised  all  that  portion  of  the  town,  beginning  on  the 
north-east  side  of  the  present  dock  (then  called  Nicholson's  Cove,) 
running  v?ith  a  straight  line  to  East  street,  with  said  street  to  the 
public  circle,  with  said  circle  to  Francis  street  and  Church  street, 
to  the  south-east  side  of  the  dock< 

8* 


90  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

take  to  build  and  keep  it ;  that  all  idle  and  vagrant  per- 
pers  may  be  taken  up  and  put  to  work  there.' 

The  house  determined  'that  such  Bridewell  or  house 
of  correction  was  very  necessary  and  convenient,  but 
that  the  present  ill  circumstances  of  this  province  will 
not  admit  the  beginning  or  carrying  on  of  any  new 
building  then  already  undertaken.' 

For  the  improvement  of  Annapolis,  it  was  proposed 
and  adopted  by  the  house  'that  y^  townes  people  be 
empowered  to  purchase  a  common,  and  for  the  com- 
missioners of  the  said  town  to  mafte  by6-laws,  with 
power  to  ffyne  any  persons,  inhabitants  committing 
breach  thereof  in  such  summe  to  be  ascertained.'  'To 
assess  y^  conduit  made  at  the  publique  charge.  That 
the  common  be  well  cleaned  with  y«  points  of  land, 
and  y*  place  dividing  the  common  to  be  well  ditched.' 
*That  an  handsome  pair  of  gates  be  made  at  y«  com- 
ing in  of  the  towne^  and  two  triangular  houses  built 
for  y^  rangers.'  'To  have  the  way  from  the  gate  to  go 
directly  to  the  top  of  y^  hill  without  the  towne,  and  to 
be  ditched  on  each  side  and  sett  with  quick  setts  or 
some  such  thing.' 

'That  part  of  the  land  which  lye  on  y«  creeke*  by 
major  Dorsey's  house,!  whereby  his  excellency  at  pre- 
sent lives,!  be  sett  aside  for  publique  buildings,  and 
if  in   case  the   same  happen  to  come  within  any  of 

*  This  creek  made  up  the  ravine  just  above  the  governor's  pond, 
and  passed  through  the  lovirer  part  of  the  garden  where  chancellor 
Bland  now  resides. 

t  This  house  is  not  standing,  nor  is  the  precise  location  of  it  now 
known. 

X  Governor  Nicholson  then  resided  in  the  house  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  G.  G.  Brewer,  Esq. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  91 

3/«  said  major's  lotts, — propose  that  land  be  given  him 
elsewhere  for  it. 

'To  have  in  the  said  towne  two  ffairs  a  year,  and 
persons  coming  thither  not  to  be  arrested  for  one  day 
before  the  said  JfaiV  and  one  day  after. 

'That  forty  foot  space  be  left  along  the  water  side 
within  the  port  of  Annapolis,  for  any  person  to  build 
warehouses  upon,  if  the  owners  of  such  lotts  that  front 
upon  the  same  do  not  build  thereon  in  such  a  tyme  to 
be  sett.'  'That  the  holes  made  by  grubbing  up  stumps 
and  cutting  off  tops  of  stones  in  the  said  port  of  An- 
napolis be  filled  up.' 

It  was  also  proposed  this  year  to  build  a  church  in 
Annapolis,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  'inspect 
into  the  proposals  for  building  the  same.' 

Major  Edward  Dorsey  from  the  committee,  reported 
'that  there  was  in  Banck  for  building  the  church  at 
Annapolis,  j£458  sterling.  That  they  had  discoursed 
workmen,  and  the  carpenter  demands  for  his  work 
je250 — the  bricklayer,  having  all  stuff  upon  the  place, 
je220 — the  brickmaker  jEQO — that  they  find  no  other 
means  to  raise  money  therefor  without  the  assistance  of 
some  charitable  disposed  persons.  That  the  charge  of 
building  the  said  church  will  amount  to  .£1200  sterling.' 
An  act  passed  the  same  day  imposing  a  tax  of  'three 
pence  per  hundred  on  tobacco,  to  continue  and  be  in 
force  untill  the  12th  day  of  May,  which  shall  be  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  God,  1698,  and  to  be  applied  to  the 
building  of  y«  church  at  Annapolis.'  The  architect 
of  this  church  was  named  Thomas  Ffielder. 

This  year  a  Mr.  Gaddes  arrived  at  Annapolis,  'being 
sent  out  by  his  Lordship  the  Bishop  of  London' — the 
house  appointed  him  to  read  prayers  in  some  vacant 


92  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  , 

parish,  and  made  a  provision  for  his  maintenance,  of 
10,000  pounds  of  tobacco. 

The  legislature  at  its  May  session,  in  1696,  passed 
an  act,  establishing  at  Annapolis  an  academy  by  the 
name  of  'King  William's  School,'  'for  the  propagation 
of  the  gospel,  and  education  of  youth  in  good  letters 
and  manners.'  Of  this  school  the  distinguished  Wil- 
liam Pinkney  was  a  student.  Mr.  Pinkney  who  has 
been  justly  styled  'the  wonder  of  his  age,'  was  a  na- 
tive of  Annapolis,  and  well  may  the  city  boast,  as 
she,  with  a  commendable  pride,  does,  of  having  sent 
forth  into  the  world  a  son  whose  memory  she  fondly 
cherishes,  and  whose  commanding  talents  and  gigan- 
tic mind  called  forth  the  admiration  both  of  Europe 
and  America. 
_-  In  1697,  governor  Nicholson  proposed  to  the 

house  of  burgesses,  'that  his  Majesty,  William 
III.,  be  addressed  that  some  part  of  the  revenue  given 
towards  furnishing  arms  and  ammunition  for  the  use  of 
the  province,  be  laid  out  for  the  purchase  of  books  to 
be  added  to  the  books  which  had  been  presented  by 
the  king,  to  form  a  library  in  the  porte  of  Annapolis ; 
and  that  a  portion  of  the  public  revenue  be  applied  to 
the  enlargement  thereof;  and  that  the  library  should 
be  placed  in  the  office,  and  under  the  care  of  the  com- 
missary of  the  province,  permitting  all  persons  desirous 
to  study  or  read  the  books,  to  have  access  thereto 
under  proper  restrictions.' 

Many  of  the  volumes  which  were  thus  presented  by 
the  king  to  Annapolis,  are  now  in  the  library  of  St. 
John's  College — to  which  they  were  removed  on  the 
burning  of  the  state-house  in  1704.  They  are  rare 
and  curious  works» 


ANNALS    or   ANNAPOLIS.  93 

In  this  year  (1697)  the  new  state-house  which  had 
been  ordered  to  be  built  on  the  removal  of  the  seat  of 
government  to  Annapolis  in  1694,  being  nearly  com- 
pleted, the  rooms  therein  were  by  an  act  of  assembly, 
particularly  designated  and  appropriated  to  the  use  of 
the  several  offices  of  the  government.  This  house 
was  built  of  brick,  and  was  a  capacious  and  conve- 
nient edifice.  This  was  the  state-house  destroyed  by 
fire  in  the  year  1704. 

The  following  extracts  are  made  from  the  journals 
of  assembly  of  this  year — but  not  unaccompanied  by 
profound  regret,  that  an  act  of  religious  bigotry  should 
have  ever  stained  the  proceedings  of  a  people  whose 
colony  was  founded  on  the  holy  principles  of  toleration, 
and  freedom  of  conscience  : 

'Lower  House,  March,  1697. 

*A  letter  to  his  excellency  the  governor,  written  by 
a  minister  of  the  church  of  England,  giving  an  ac- 
count of  the  presumptions  of  popish  priests  in  Charles 
county,  in  visiting  dying  and  phrantick  persons,  and 
endeavoring  to  make  proselytes  of  them,  and  also  ad- 
ministering the  sacraments  to  them  in  such  dying  and 
phrantick  condition,  was  read. 

'Whereupon  put  to  the  question,  if  a  bill  shall  be 
drawn  up  to  restraine  such  their  presumption  or  not, 
and  carried  by  the  majority  of  voices  in  the  negative. 

'But  resolved,  nemine  coniradicente,  that  his  excel- 
lency be  addressed  to  issue  his  proclamation  to  re- 
straine such  their  extravagances  and  presumptions. 

^Resolved,  that  the  following  address  be  sent  to  his 
excellency  the  governor. 
V    'By  the  house  of  delegates,  March  y^  21st,  1697. 


94  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

*Uppon  reading  a  certain  letter  from  a  reverend  min- 
ister of  the  church  of  England,  which  your  excellency 
was  pleased  to  communicate  to  us,  complaining  to 
your  excellency,  how  that  the  popish  priests  in  Charles 
county  do  of  their  own  accord  in  this  violent  and 
raging  mortality  in  that  county,  make  it  their  business 
to  go  up  and  down  the  country  to  persons  houses  when 
dying  and  phranticke,  and  endeavour  to  seduce  and 
make  proselytes  of  them,  and  in  such  condition  boldly 
presume  to  administer  the  sacraments  to  them.  We 
have  put  it  to  the  vote  in  this  house,  if  a  law  should 
be  made  to  restraine  such  their  presumption,  and 
have  concluded  not  to  make  such  law  at  present — but 
humbly  to  entreat  your  excellency  that  you  would  be 
pleased  to  issue  your  proclamation  to  restraine  and 
prohibit  such  their  extravagante  and  presumptious 
behaviour.         Signed  by  order. 

'W.  Bladen,  Clerk  House  of  Delegates.^ 
9  By  several  acts  of  subsequent  legislation,  the  Roman 
catholics  were  rendered  incapable  of  voting,  unless 
they  qualified  themselves  by  taking  the  several  test- 
oaths,  and  making  the  declaration  prescribed  by  the 
act  of  1716 ;  and  all  judges  of  elections  were  empowered 
to  tender  these  oaths  and  declaration  to  •'any  person  sus- 
pected to  be  a  papist,  or  popishly  inclined  ;'  and,  upon 
his  refusal  thus  to  qualify,  they  might  reject  his  vote. 
These  were  the  mere  legal  disqualifications  of  the  ca- 
tholics ;  but  they  fell  short  of  the  actual  oppressions 
practised  upon  them  during  many  periods  of  this  era. 
*  When  laws  degrade,  individuals  learn  to  practice  wan- 
ton outrage  ;  the  former  stigmatize,  the  latter  catch  its  , 
spirit,  and  make  its  example  an  excuse  for  oppression.* 
Hence  the  personal  animosity  of  the  protestants  against 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  95 

the  catholics  of  Maryland  was,  at  one  period,  carried 
to  such  an  extent,  that,  as  we  are  informed,  the  latter 
were  even  excluded  from  social  intercourse  with  the 
former — were  not  permitted  to  walk  in  front  of  the 
State-house,  and  were  actually  obliged  to  wear  swords 
for  their  personal  protection.* 

In  1758,  during  the  tiq|e  governor  Sharpe  presided 
over  the  province  of  Maryland,  information  was  given, 
and  complaints  were  made  to  Lord  Baltimore,  that  too 
much  countenance  was  given  to  the  Roman  catholics  ; 
that,  in  consequence  thereof,  their  numbers  greatly  in- 
creased ;  and  that  many  of  them  behaved  in  such  a 
manner,  as  to  give  the  protestants  in  the  province  great 
oifence  and  uneasiness. 

Governor  Sharpe,  in  a  letter  to  the  Lord  Proprietary, 
dated  December  16th,  1758,  says  :  'I  think  it  my  duty, 
and  in  justice  to  myself,  I  can  do  no  less  than  to  assure 
^  your  lordship,  that  since  I  have  had  the  honour  to  bear 
pi  your  commission,  nothing  has  been  farther  from  my 
inclination  than  to  countenance,  or  give  encouragement 
to  persons  of  that  persuasion,  nor  has  there,  to  my 
knowledge,  been  any  given  them  by  any  persons  in 
authority  under  me,  but,  on  the  contrary,  extraordinary 
burthens  have  been  lately  laid  on  them,  particularly  by 
an  act  of  assembly  that  was  made  in  May,  1756,  where- 
by all  landholders  of  the  Romish  faith  are  obliged  to 
pay,  by  way  of  land  tax,  twice  as  much  as  the  rest  of 
your  lordship's  tenants,  who  are  protestants. 

'It  might,  perhaps,  be  unsown,  if  not  to  the  authors, 
at  least  to  some  of  the  propagators  of  the  above  men- 
tioned report,  that  the  people  who  first  settled  in  this 
province  were,  for  the  most  part,  Roman  catholics,  and 

*  McMahorCt  History  of  Maryland. 


96  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

that,  altho'  every  other  sect  was  tolerated,  a  majority 
of  the  inhabitants  continued  papists  till  the  revolution, 
soon  after  which  event,  an  act  was  made  here  for  the 
support  of  a  clergyman  of  the  church  of  England  in 
every  parish,  which  is  still  in  force  ;  and  the  papists  as 
well  as  protestants,  are  thereby  obliged  to  pay  annually 
very  considerable  sums  for  thft  purpose.  Other  acts  of 
assembly  were  made  afterwards,  in  the  reign  of  her  ma- 
jesty Queen  Ann,  subjecting  all  popish  priests  that 
should  be  discovered  here,  to  all  the  penalties  to  which 
such  priests  would  be  lyable  in  England,  but  her  ma- 
jesty was  pleased  to  disapprove  thereof,  and  to  order 
that  no  popish  bishop,  priest  or  Jesuit  should  be  prose- 
cuted or  indicted  for  exercising  his  function  in  any  pri- 
vate family  within  this  province.  But,  notwithstanding 
her  majesty  thought  fit  to  allow  the  papists  in  Maryland 
the  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  they  were  not  permit- 
ted to  sit  in  either  house  of  assembly,  to  vote  at  the 
election  of  representatives,  to  act  as  magistrates,  or  to 
enjoy  any  place  of  publick  trust  or  profit,  nor  have  they 
been  since  suffered  ;  and  to  this,  I  presume,  it  must  be 
principally  attributed,  that,  altho'  half  the  province  were 
Roman  catholicks  about  sixty  years  ago,  the  people  of 
that  religion  do  not,  at  present,  make  a  thirteenth  part 
of  the  inhabitants,  as  I  find  by  the  return  of  the  sherriffs 
and  constables  who  have,  in  obedience  to  my  orders, 
made  the  most  strict  inquiry  in  their  respective  districts, 
and  the  rolls  returned  by  the  collectors  of  the  land  tax 
shew  that  they  are  not  possessed  of  a  twelfth  part  of 
the  land  which  is  held  under  your  lordship  as  proprie- 
tary of  Maryland. 

'That  your  lordship  may  not  be  at  a  loss  to  account 
for  their  having  many  enemies  ready  to  propagate  sto- 


JLNNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  97 

ries  to  their  disadvantage,  I  must  intreat  your  patience 
while  I  inform  you,  that  some  time  before  your  lordship 
was  pleased  to  appoint  me  your  lieutenant-governor, 
one  Mr.  Carrol,  a  Roman  catholic,  died  here,  and  left 
a  considerable  estate  to  his  two  sons,  having  appointed 
two  of  his  relations  their  guardians  and  executors  of  his 
last  will  and  testament.     Both  these  gentlemen  were, 
at  that  time,  of  the  same  religion  as  the  testator ;  but, 
after  a  while,  one  of  them  declared  himself  a  protest- 
ant,  and,  having  qualified  himself  according  to  law,  was 
chosen  by  the  people  of  this  county  to  represent  them 
in  the  lower  house  of  assembly.     A  difference  or  quar- 
rell  arising  between  the  executors,  concerning  the  ad- 
ministration, he  that   had  not  renounced  his  religion 
published  a  peice  by  way  of  advertisement,  which  re- 
flected much  on  the  conduct  and  character  of  the  other, 
who  had  address  enough  to  persuade  the  house  of  as- 
sembly, which  was  then  sitting,  to  take  notice  thereof, 
and  to  punish  the  author  for  violating  their  priviledges 
by  libelling,  as  they  said,  one  of  their  members.     Some 
Roman  catholicks,  friends  of  the  gentleman  who  was 
thus  treated,  having  taken  the  liberty  to  speak  disre- 
spectfully of  the  assembly  for  such  their  proceedings, 
the  lower  house  immediately  resented  it  by  resolving 
that  the  papists  were  bad  members  of  the  community, 
and  unworthy  of  the  protection  and  indulgence  which 
had  been  given  them. 

After  this,  their  enemies,  and  many  were  made  such 
by  envy  or  the  hopes  of  reaping  some  advantage  firom 
a  persecution  of  the  papists,  were  continually  represent- 
ing them  as  a  very  dangerous  people,  enemies  to  his 
majesty  and  their  country,  nor  had  this  spirit  of  enmity 
subsided,  when  I  arrived  in  the  province.  Immediately 
9 


98  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

after  the  defeat  of  general  Braddock  it  was  given  out 
that  several  Roman  catholicks  had  showed  signs  of  sa- 
tisfaction and  joy  at  that  unhappy  event,  and  that  one  of 
their  priests  had  been  seen  on  the  frontiers  in  the  dress 
of  an  officer.     To  alarm  the  people  the  more,  it  was,  at 
the  same  time,  rumoured  that  the  negroes  had  been  ca- 
balling in  many  parts  of  the  country — nay,  Mr.  Chase, 
rector  of  St.  Paul's  parish,  in  Baltimore  county,  scru- 
pled not  to  intimate  from  the  pulpit  to  his  congregation, 
that  the  state  or  situation  of  the  protestants  in  this  pro- 
vince was,  at  that  time,  very  little  different  from  that  of  ' 
the  protestants  in  Ireland,  at  the  eve  of  the  Irish  mas- 
sacre.    In  order  to  learn  whether  the  behaviour  of  the 
papists,  or  of  any  negroes,  had  given  reason  or  afforded 
room  for  such  reports,  I  convened  the  gentlemen  of  the 
council,  and,  by  their  advice,  circular  letters  were  sent 
to  the  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  several  parts  of  the 
province,  whereby  they  were  directed  to  enquire  whe- 
ther the  Roman  catholicks,  in  their  respective  counties, 
had  misbehaved,  or  whether  there  was  any  foundation 
for  the  reports  which  had  been  spread  concerning  them, 
and  which  had  made  many  of  his  majesty's  good  sub- 
jects in  the  province  very  uneasy. 

The  letters  which  I  shall  herewith  transmit  to  your 
lordship  in  a  packett  marked  No.  1,  will  shew  that  none 
of  the  county  courts  could,  upon  the  strictest  enquiry, 
find  that  any  of  the  papists  had  behaved  or  expressed 
themselves  in  an  unbecoming  manner,  tho',  indeed,  the 
justices  of  Prince  George's  county  (who,  it  seems,  had 
taken  extraordinary  pains  to  make  discoveries,  but  in 
vain,)  were  too  much  prejudiced  to  acquit  them,  or,  at 
least,  to  acquit  their  priests  of  having  ill  designs  against 
the  government.     When  the  assembly  met  in  April  fol- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  'Sf 

lowing,  the  lower  house,  incited  by  two  or  three  gen- 
tlemen whose  interest  and  popularity  were  thereby  pro- 
moted, presented  an  address  to  me  which  was  calcula- 
ted to  inflame  the  people  still  more  against  the  papists, 
and  to  make  'em  believe  that  they,  or  a  few  of  them,  at 
least,  had  received  extraordinary  favours  from  myself.    I 
cannot  help  thinking  that  your  lordship  was  thoroughly 
satisfied,  by  the  answer  I  gave  the  gentlemen  the  24th 
of  April,  1656,  which  is  printed  in  their  journal,  that 
the  allegations  or  insinuations  contained  in  their  address 
were  false  and  groundless,  and,  indeed,  I  am  persuaded 
that,  if  they  had  not  been  convinced  thereof,  and  been' 
sensible  that  they  had  been  imposed  on,  they  would  not 
have  failed  to  make  a  reply.     During  the  same  session, 
the   gentlemen  of  the  upper  house  thought  proper  to 
frame  a  bill  for  preventing  the  growth  of  popery  within 
this  province,  by  which  the  priests  were  to  be  rendered 
incapable  of  holding  any  lands,  to  be  obliged  to  regis- 
ter their  names,  and  give  large  security  for  their  good 
behaviour,  forbid  to  make  a  proselyte  under  pain  of  the 
penalty  for  high  treason,  and  it  was  to  have  been  enacted 
by  the  said  bill,  that  no  person  who  should  hereafter  be 
educated  at  any  foreign  popish  seminary,  could  be  quali- 
fied to  inherit  any  estate  or  to  hold  lands  within  this 
province.     There  were  many  other  restraints  to  be  laid 
on  them  by  this  bill,  as  your  lordship  may  see,  if  you 
shall  be  pleased  to  peruse  the  copy  of  it  which  you  will 
herewith  receive  ;  but  the  gentlemen  of  the  lower  house 
refused  to  pass  it  without  many  amendments,  and  these 
the  upper  house  would  not  agree  to,  being  of  opinion 
that  the  bill,  as  it  was  first  drawn,  was  severe  enough, 
and  sufficient  to  answer  every  good  end  that  could  be 
desired  by  any  protestants  who  delighted  not  in  perse- 
cution. 


100  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  step  which  the  gentlemen  of  the  upper  house 
had  taken  in  proposing  such  a  bill,  added  to  the  report 
which  the  justices  had  made,  had  this  effect,  however, 
that  it  quieted  the  minds  of  the  people,  and  silenced 
those  who  had  endeavoured  tolnflame  and  terrify  them. 

I  have  since  ordered  another  circular  letter  to  be 
wrote  and  sent  to  the  justices,  desiring  them  to  enquire 
again,  and  inform  me  how  the  Roman  catholicks  in  the 
several  counties  had  behaved,  since  they,  the  justices, 
made  their  last  report,  in  a  packett  marked  No.  2.  I 
shall  transmit  your  lordship  copies  of  all  their  answers, 
w^hich  will,  I  am  apt  to  think,  incline  your  lordship  to 
believe  that  the  Roman  catholicks  who  are  among  us 
continue  to  behave  as  behooves  good  subjects  ;  and, 
upon  the  whole,  my  lord,  I  must  say,  that,  if  I  was 
asked  whether  the  conduct  of  the  protestants  or  papists 
in  this  province  hath  been  most  unexceptionable  since 
I  have  had  the  honour  to  serve  your  lordship,  I  should 
not  hesitate  to  give  an  answer  in  favour  of  the  latter.'* 

*  Governor  Sharpe's  MS.  Letter-book,  in  the  Maryland  state 
library. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  101 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Dispute  between  Governor  Nicholson  and  the  Lower  House  of  As- 
sembly— They  become  reconciled — Governor  Nicholson  leaves  this 

.  Province  to  preside  over  Virginia — Petition  of  Mr.  John  Perry — 
James  Crawford,  a  Delegate,  killed  by  lightning — First  public 
Jail — State-House  burnt  down — A  new  one  erected — Described — 
Improvement  of  the  town — A  plot  for  burning  of  Annapolis,  disco- 
vered— Bounds  of  Annapolis — Annapolis  chartered — ^Description 
of  Annapolis — Delegates  from  Annapolis  to  receive  only  half 
wages — Improvements — Mr.  James  Stoddart  appointed  to  lay  olf 
anew  the  city — Mr.  Wm.  Parks  appointed  to  compile  the  Laws  of 
the  Province — Improvements — Appropriation  to  build  a  Gk)vern- 
ment-House — Mr.  Jonas  Green  appointed  Printer  to  the  Pro- 
vince— His  character — Editor  of  the  Maryland  Gazette — The  first 
public  horseracing — Aurora  Borealis — South  River  Club — Mili- 
tary' movements  at  Annapolis — Anniversary  of  George  the  Se- 
cond— Trade  and  Commerce  of  Annapolis — The  first  Ship-Yard — 
Brig  Lovely  Nancy — Notices  of  some  of  the  oldest  houses  of  the 
town — The  old  Episcopal  Church — Indians — King  Abraham  and 
Queen  Sarah — A  Hiccory  Switch — A  Jockey  Club  formed — Races — 
The  first  Theatre  built — The  first  Lottery  drawn  in  the  Province- 
Governor  Sharp  arrives  at  Annapolis — The  military  march  from 
Annapolis  against  the  French  on  the  Ohio — General  Braddock  and 
other  distinguished  persons  arrive  at  Annapolis — Doctor  Charles 
Carroll,  his  death — Annapolis  entrenched— Hostilities  of  the 
French  and  Indians — SmalUpox. 

Q       At  the  close  of  March  session  of  the  assem- 
bly in  1698 — which  had  been  one  of  conten- 
tious disputation   between  the  lower  house   and  go- 
vernor Nicholson ;  the  governor  closed  his  address  as 
follows : 

*A  letter  from  your  house  supposed  to  be  for  my 
Lord  Bishop  of  London,  has  been  here  read,  and  his 
excellency  says  that  he  scorns  to  have  his  reputation 
and  honour  supported  and  vindicated  by  some  of  you^ 
but  shall  rather  look  upon  it  as  a  ?can4aU  tp  have  it  so, 
9* 


102  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

for  that  he  can  prove  one  your  house  to  be  a  villian 
upon  record,  if  not  worse,  and  of  several  others,  your 
lives  and  conversations  to  be  so  well  known,  both  in 
this  country  and  England,  that  they  are  not  agreeable 
to  truth  and  justice.' 

It  appears,  however,  that  before  the  conclusion  of 
the  October  session  of  the  same  year,  a  better  state  of 
feeling  prevailed,  between  the  members  of  the  lower 
house  and  governor  Nicholson.  At  this  period  he  was 
appointed  governor  of  the  province  of  Virginia,  and 
was  succeeded  in  Maryland  by  governor  Blackstone. 
Before  taking  his  departure,  in  addressing  the  two 
houses  of  assembly,  he  embraced  the  occasion  to  say — 
that  notwithstanding  the  public  business  had  been  'in- 
terrupted by  heats  and  animosities  amongst  them — 
he  hoped  they  were  now  hurried  in  the  depth  of  obli- 
vion, and  that  he  was  not  willing  to  revive  them. 

'And  for  as  much  as  he  hoped  all  differences  are 
composed  or  forgot,  he  will  not  make  any  distinction  or 
separation  amongst  the  gentlemen  of  the  house  of  dele- 
gates, and  for  what  hath  happened,  he  doth  believe  was 
through  inadvertency,  and  as  he  has  an  esteem  for  all 
persons  that  had  shewed  themselves  truly  loyall  to  his 
majesty,  whensoever,  that  occasion  may  require  it,  he 
will  signalize  it  by  the  best  services  he  may  doe  them,' 
&c.  In  reply  to  which  the  following  address  was 
made,  viz : 

'The  honourable  colonel  Henry  Jowles,  chancellor, 
on  behalf  of  the  honourable,  his  majesty's  council — 
the  honourable,  the  justice  of  the  provincial  court — 
some  of  the  members  of  the  house  of  delegate,  and 
the  grand  jury — presented  the  following  address  : 

'To  his  excellency  Francis  Nicholson,  Esq.,  cap* 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  103 

tain-general  and  governor  of  this  his   majesty's  pro- 
vince and  territory  of  Maryland  ; 

*Sir,  having  lately  received  information  from  your- 
self and  others,  that  his  majesty  has  thought  fit  to  re- 
move you  unto  another  government,  that  of  our  neigh- 
bour colony  of  Virginia — and  reflecting  with  ourselves 
how  becoming  a  thing  it  is  to  have  always  a  grateful 
remembrance  of  benefits  received,  we  cannot  forbear 
to  leave  this  testimony  and  acknowledgment  tinder  our 
hands,  as  it  proceeds  from  our  hearts. 

'That  in  your  conduct  over  us  in  this  place,  your 
great  care  and  study  has  been  to  promote  the  practice 
of  piety  and  worship  of  Almighty  God,  by  erecting 
churches,  schools,  and  nurserys  of  learning,  both  for 
reforming  of  manners  and  education  of  youth,  wherein 
you  have  not  only  been  a  large  benefactor,  but  an  inde- 
faticable  'promoter,  together  with  your  integrity  of 
maintaining  his  majesty's  honour  and  authority  in 
this  province — your  care  in  providing  arms  and  mili- 
tary instruments  for  the  defence  of  it.  Your  regulating 
and  happy  settlement  of  the  civil  constitution,  both  as 
to  the  courts  of  justice ;  and  in  bringing  us  out  of  debt 
which  the  public  was  in,  into  a  condition  clear  of  debt 
and  money  in  bank,  by  your  promotion  of  good  laws 
to  such  purposes  ;  your  great  care  to  cause  speedy  jus- 
tice to  be  administered  to  all  persons  ;  your  pious  and 
just,  your  noble  and  benevolent  carriage  in  all  things, 
deserves  better  pens,  and  would  take  up  more  paper 
than  this  to  recount. 

'Be  pleased,  therefore,  honoured  sir,  to  accept  our 
humble  acknowlegments  for  the  same,  as  the  just 
though  slender  tribute  of  an  obliged  people,  to  a  ge- 
nerous and  good  governor,  praying  to  God  to  bless 


104  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

you  and  all  your  pious  and  noble  undertakings,  with 
happiness  and  success.'  So  prays  your  humble  and 
obliged  servants.  Henry  Jowles.' 

This  admirable  address  is  signed  by  the  members  of 
council — provincial  court — by  thirty-four  members  of 
the  house  of  delegates,  and  by  the  grand  jury. 

Governor  Nicholson  expressed  his  pleasure,  and 
thanked  'the  gentlemen  for  the  character  they  have 
been  pleased  to  give  him,  which  is  greater  than  he 
was  able  to  perform,  but  that  he  has  endeavoured  as 
much  as  in  him  lay,  -to  discharge  his  duty  to  God — 
the  King,  and  the  county ;  and  prays  God,  that  they 
may  never  find  cause  of  complaint  more  than  he  has 
given.' 

In  this  year,  a  Mr.  John  Perry,  petitioned  to  the 
assembly,  complaining  that  he  had  been  at  great  ex- 
pense in  building  a  brick  house  in  the  porte  of  Annap- 
olis, and  that  a  certain  small  market-house  had  since 
been  so  incommodiously  erected,  that  it  deprived  him 
of  his  ^sight  and  pro  sped  J' 

Upon  considering  his  petition,  the  house  consented 
that  the  said  market-house  should  be  removed  'at  the 
charge  of  the  petitioner.' 

ifiQQ        '^^^  following  memorandum  is  recorded  on 
the  journals   of  the  house  of  burgesses  in  the 
year  1699. 

'Memorandum,  that  on  Thursday,  July  13th,  about 
four  or  five  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  violent 
fflash  of  lightening  broke  into  the  state-house  at  An- 
napolis ;  the  house  of  delegates  being  there  sitting, 
which  instantly  killed  Mr.  James  Crauford,  one  of 
the  members  of  Calvert  county,  and  hurt  and  wound- 
ed several  other  members,  and   shattered  and  broke 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  105 

most  part  of  the  doors  and  window  cases  belonging 
to  the  said  house,  and  sett  y^  said  state-house  on 
fire  in  one  of  the  vpper  chambers,  and  several  other 
damages  ;  but  the  fire  was  presently  quenched  by  the 
dilligence  and  industry  of  his  excellency,  Nathaniel 
Blackistone,  his  majesty's  governor.' 

The  first  public  prison  was  built  at  Annapolis  this 
year,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  was  to  be  made, 
is  minutely  described  on  the  journals  of  the  house. 

This  jail  was  erected  on  the  corner  of  the  lot  be- 
longing to  the  Episcopal  parsonage,  and  was  made 
of  wood. 

In  this  year  Annapolis  was  made  by  an  act  of  as- 
sembly— the  'chief  place  and  seat  of  justice,'  within 
the  province,  for  holding  assemblies  and  provincial 
courts,  and  where  all  writs  were  made  returnable. 
M(\A  ^^  1704  the  general  assembly  passed  an  act 
for  building  the  state-house,  to  supply  the  place 
of  the  one  burned  down  this  year. 

At  the  first  session  of  assembly  held  in  Annapolis 
after  the  burning  of  the  state-house,  his  excellency 
governor  Seymour,  in  his  message  says  on  that  sub- 
ject, 'the  late  melancholy  accident  might  have  been 
prevented  had  my  often  admonitions  took  place ;  for 
I  never  saw  any  public  building  left  solely  to  Pro- 
vidence hut  in  Maryland.  I  hope  this  sad  experi- 
ment will  awaken  your  care  for  time  to  come,  and 
in  the  interim  your  best  considerations  to  secure  the 
laws  and  records  of  your  country  for  the  advantage 
and  quiet  of  future  generations.  What  is  proper  to 
be  done  in  rebuilding  your  stadt-house,  so  very  ne- 
cessary for  the  accommodation  of  the  public,  I  leave 
entirely  to  your  own   serious   debates   and   decision, 


106  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

for  I  have  no  other  aim  than  the  true  interest  and 
service  of  your  country.' 

At  this  time  the  provincial  legislature  sat  in  a  house 
belonging  to  a  colonel  Edward  Dorsey,  for  which 
they  contracted  to  pay  a  rent  of  twenty  pounds  ster- 
ling per  annum. 

Immediately  after  reading  the  governor's  message, 
the  house  of  delegates  appointed  a  committee  to  in- 
spect the  ruins  of  the  state-house,  and  to  'make  report 
if  the  walls  now  standing  are  fit  and  sufficient  to 
rebuild  upon.' 

This  committee  reported  in  favor  of  rebuilding  upon 
the  old  walls,  and  in  the  same  'form  and  manner  as 
before.' 

The  new  state  or  court-house,  as  it  is  often  termed 
in  the  journal  of  proceedings,  was  accordingly  rebuilt, 
under  contract,  by  a  Mr.  W.  Bladen,  (who  had  erect-' 
ed  all  the  other  public  buildings,)  the  cost  of  the 
building  not  to  exceed  one  thousand  pounds  sterling, 
Mr.  Bladen  to  have  the  benefit  of  all  'the  materials 
saved  out  of  the  fire  which  appertained  to  the  old 
court-house.' 

This  house  was  finished  in  1706,*  and  is  recol- 
lected by  some  few  of  the  present  inhabitants  of  this 
city — and  stood  where  the  present  state-house  now 
stands.  It  is  described  as  having  been  a  neat  brick 
building.  It  was  in  form  an  oblong  square,  entered 
by  a  hall — opposite  to  the  door  of  which  was  the 
judges'  seat,  and  on  each  side  there  were  rooms  for 

*  During  the  building  of  this  house,  the  house  of  delegates  'met  at 
and  held  their  sessions  'at  the  house  of  colonel  Edward  Dorsey,  in 
Annapolis' — the  house  met  twice  a  day — to  wit :  from  8  o'clock  to 
12  A.  M.,  and  from  2  to  4  P.  M.,  and  were  'called  by  beat  of  drum.' 


ANNALS   OF    ANNAPOLIS.  107 

the  jur}'s  to  retire.  Over  the  judges'  seat  was  a  full 
length  likeness  of  Queen  Anne,  presenting  a  printed 
charter  of  the  city  of  Annapolis.  In  this  house  the 
general  assembly  held  its  sessions.  A  handsome  cu- 
pola surmounted  the  building,  surrounded  by  balus- 
trades, and  furnished  with  seats  for  those  who  de- 
sired to  enjoy  the  beautiful  scenery  around.  The 
portrait  of  Queen  Anne,  just  mentioned,  is  said  to 
have  been  destroyed  during  the  revolutionary  war — 
*when  every  thing  bearing  the  semblance  of  royalty 
was  in  bad  odour  with  our  republican  sires.' 

About  the  same  period,  an  armory  was  built  near 
the  court-house,  on  the  north  side  of  it.  It  is  repre- 
sented to  have  been  a  large  hall  with  seats  around 
it,  above  which  the  walls  were  covered  with  arms, 
tastefully  arranged.  It  was  often  used  as  a  ball- 
room— from  the  vaulted  roof  was  suspended  a  wooden 
gilt  chandelier,  which  when  lighted  up,  produced  a 
brilliant  effect  by  the  reflection  of  the  light  from  the 
arms.  The  walls  of  the  hall  were  also  decorated  with 
full  length  portraits  of  Queen  Anne  and  Lord  BaUi- 
more.  The  governor  and  council  held  their  sessions 
in  one  of  the  apartments  of  this  building. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  court-house,  stood  the 
memorable  academy  of  'King  William,'  which  is  said 
to  have  been  a  plain  building,  containing  school-rooms 
and  apartments  for  the  teacher  and  his  family. 

In  this  year  the  lower  house  of  assenwly  di- 
rected that  three  lots  be  laid  out  within  the 
city — one  for  the  benefit  and  advantage  of  the  rector 
of  the  parish — one  for  the  sexton,  and  the  third  for  the 
clerk  of  the  vestry  and  commissary's  clerk—a  house 
was  shortly  after  built  upon  one  of  them  for  the  accom- 


108  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

modation  of  the  vestry,  which  house  and  lot  were 
annexed  to  the  parson's  lot,  for  the  reception  and  ac- 
commodation of  a  minister  forever. 
„.„  In  the  proceedings  of  the  house  of  delegates 
for  this  year,  a  certain  Richard  Clarke  is  charged 
with  the  design  of  burning  the  port  of  Annapolis — de- 
stroying the  public  records — sacking,  and  then  blow^- 
ing  up  the  public  magazine  within  the  limits  of  the 
town — w^ith  making  and  passing  base  coin,  of  dol- 
lars and  pieces  of  eight — and  with  the  intention  of 
pirating,  after  he  had  succeeded  in  carrying  into  exe- 
cution his  diabolical  and  villainous  designs.  And 
from  the  testimony  taken  before  the  committee  apr 
pointed  to  investigate  the  truth  of  these  charges, 
(which  testimony  is  set  forth  at  large  in  the  manuscript 
journal  of  this  year,)  no  doubt  can  remain  that  such 
were  his  intentions.  This  testimony  is  highly  curious 
and  interesting,  but  too  long  to  be  given  here. 

In  1705,  this  same  man  (Clarke)  was  outlawed  for 
treasonable  designs,  and  after  the  above  investigation 
had  been  finished,  an  act  for  his  attainder  was  passed, 
setting  forth  that  the  said  Clarke  had  obstinately  re- 
fused to  surrender  himself  to  justice,  and  charges  him 
with  various  treasonable  intentions.  He  was  convicted 
and  attainted  of  high  treason,  and  doomed  to  suffer 
death.  But  whether  this  worthy  was  ever  promoted 
or  suspended,  our  records  do  not  furnish  us  with  any 
evidence. 

In  1707,  all  the  towns  in  Baltimore  and  Anne  Arun- 
del counties,  together  with  the  rivers  and  creeks,  ex- 
cept such  as  were  situated  on  the  Patuxent,  were 
appended  to  Annapolis. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS,  109 

.  ^-Q  In  the  year  1708  Annapolis  was  erected  into 
a  city.  From  the  time  of  its  establishment,  the 
new  government  spared  no  efforts  to  increase  its  popu- 
lation, and  improve  its  accommodations,  so  as  to  give 
it  a  permanent  hold  upon  the  province ;  yet,  with  all 
these  aids,  it  at  first  increased  but  slowly. 

A  person  writing  from  Maryland,  within  four  or  five 
years  after  the  removal  of  the  legislature  to  this  place, 
remarks — 'there  are  indeed  several  places  for  towns, 
but  hitherto  they  are  only  titular  ones,  except  Annapo- 
lis, where  the  governor  resides.  Colonel  Nicholson 
has  done  his  endeavours  to  make  a  town  of  that  place. 
There  are  about  forty  dwelling-houses  in  it,  seven  or 
eight  of  which  can  afford  a  good  lodging  and  accom- 
modations for  strangers.  There  are  also  a  state-house 
and  a  free-school,  built  of  brick,  which  make  a  great 
show  among  a  parcel  of  wooden  houses ;  and  the 
foundation  of  a  church  is  laid,  the  only  brick  church  in 
Maryland.  They  have  two  market-days  in  a  week, 
and  had  governor  Nicholson  continued  there  a  few 
months  longer,  he  had  brought  it  to  perfection.' 

A  later  account  of  it,  represents  it  as  in  nearly  the 
same  condition  during  governor  Seymour's  administra- 
tion in  1708.  It  yet  wanted  the  rank  and  privileges  of 
a  city  until  this  year ;  and  it  received  these  just  as  they 
were  departing  from  the  ancient  city  of  St.  Mary's. 
That  place,  once  so  venerable  in  the  eyes  of  the  colo- 
nists, and  yet  memorable  in  its  connexion,  'with  the 
foundation  of  a  free  and  h^py  State,  after  ceasing  to 
be  the  capital,  did  not  long  retain  its  rank.  It  lost  its 
privilege  of  sending  delegates  in  1708.  One  by  one, 
all  its  relics  have  disappeared,  and  in  the  very  State 
to  which  it  gave  birth,  and  the  land  it  redeemed  from 
10 


110  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

the  wilderness,  it  now  stands  a  solitary  spot,'  dedicated 
to  heaven,  and  a  fit  memento  of  all  perishable  things. 

Annapolis,  its  successor,  received  its  charter  on  the 
16th  day  of  August,  1708,  which  was  granted  by  the 
honourable  John  Seymour,  then  the  royal  governor  of 
the  province.  'It  appears  to  have  been  one  of  his 
favourite  designs,  and  was  proposed  by  him  to  the  as- 
sembly, as  early  as  1704.  No  measures  being  adopted 
by  the  latter  to  carry  his  wishes  into  effect,  he  at  length 
conferred  the  charter  by  virtue  of  the  prerogative  of 
his  office.  Under  this  charter,  besides  the  powers  and 
privileges  relative  to  the  organization  and  exercise  of 
its  municipal  government,  the  city  of  Annapolis  ob- 
tained the  privilege  of  electing  two  delegates  to  the 
general  assembly,'  and  which  she  has  ever  since  en- 
joyed— until  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution  of 
the  State,  by  the  general  assembly  at  its  December 
session  in  1836.  Under  it,  she  is  entitled  to  but  one 
representative,  and  that  privilege  will  cease  after  the 
promulgation  of  the  census  of  the  year  1840,  when 
she  will  be  deemed  and  taken  as  a  part  of  Anne  Arun- 
del county,  in  all  future  elections  for  the  delegates 
to  the  general  assembly. 

The  same  act  declares  that  the  city  of  Annapolis  shall 
continue  to  be  the  seat  of  government,  and  the  place 
of  holding  the  sessions  of  the  court  of  appeals  for  the 
western  shore,  and  the  high  court  of  chancery.  It  is 
also  made  the  residence  of  the  governor  by  an  act  of 
the  legislature  in  1837.     • 

From  the  period  of  the  grant  of  its  charter  by  go- 
vernor Seymour,  Annapolis  was  continually  on  the  ad- 
vance. 'It  never  acquired  a  large  population,  nor  any 
great  degree  of  commercial  consequence ;  but  long  be- 


ANNALS    or    ANNAPOLIS.  Ill 

fore  tlie  American  revolution,  it  was  conspicuous  as  the 
seat  of  wealth  and  fashion ;  the  luxurious  habits,  ele- 
gant accomplishments  and  profuse  hospitality  of  its 
inhabitants,  were  proverbially  known  throughout  the 
colonies.  It  was  the  seat  of  a  wealthy  government, 
and  of  its  principal  institutions ;  and  as  such,  congre- 
gated around  it  many,  whose  liberal  attainments  emi- 
nently qualified  them  for  societj'.' 

A  French  writer  in  speaking  of  this  city  as  he  found 
it  during  the  American  revolution,  thus  describes  it: 
*in  that  very  inconsiderable  town,  standing  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Severn,  where  it  falls  into  the  bay,  of 
the  few  buildings  it  contains,  at  least  three-fourths  may 
be  styled  elegant  and  grand.  Female  luxury  here  ex- 
ceeds what  is  known  in  the  provinces  of  France.  A 
French  hair  dresser  is  a  man  of  importance  amongst 
them ;  and  it  is  said,  a  certain  dame  here  hires  one  of 
that  craft  at  one  thousand  crowns  a  year.  The  state- 
house  is  a  very  beautiful  building,  I  think  the  most  so 
of  any  I  have  seen  in  America,' 

This  forms  a  striking  contrast  to  the  account  given 
of  it  at  a  much  earlier  date,  and  which  is  to  be  found 
in  a  satire,  called  'the  Sot-weed  Factor,  or  a  Voyage 
to  Maryland ;  in  which  is  described  the  laws,  govern- 
ment, courts,  and  constitutions  of  the  country ;  and 
also  the  buildings,  feasts,  frolics,  entertainments,  and 
drunken  humours  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of 
America.'  In  burlesque  verse,  by  Eden  Cook,  gent., 
published  at  London  in  1708. 

Annapolis  is  thus  mentioned  in  one  part  of  this 
curious  work : 


J 12  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

«To  try  the  cause,  then  fully  bent, 
Up  to  Annapolis  I  went; 
A  city  situate  on  a  plain, 
Where  scarce  a  bouse  will  keep  out  rain; 
The  buildings  framed  with  cypress  rare, 
Resemble  much  our  Southwick  fair ; 
But  strangers  there  will  scarcely  meet 
With  market  place,  exchange  or  street ; 
And,  if  the  truth  I  may  reportr 
It's  not  so  large  as  Tottenham  court, — 
St.  Mary's  once  was  in  repute, 
Now  here  the  judges  try  the  suit; 
And  lawyers  twice  a  year  dispute — 
As  oft  the  bench  most  gravely  meet, 
Some  to  get  drunk,  and  some  to  eat 
A  swinging  share  of  country  treat ; 
But  as  for  justice,  right  or  wrong, 
Not  one  amongst  the  numerous  throng. 
Knows  what  it  means,  or  has  the  heart 
To  vindicate  a  stranger's  part.' 

This  poem,  with  another  upon  Bacon's  Rebellion  in 
Virginia,  were  re-printed  at  Annapolis,  in  1731 ;  but 
Mr.  Green,  by  whom  it  was  printed,  reminds  the  rea- 
der that  it  was  a  description  written  twenty  years  be- 
fore, which  did  not  agree  with  the  condition  of  Anna- 
polis at  the  time  of  its  publication.  Both  of  these 
pl)ems  are  still  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Jonas  Green, 
of  this  city. 

By  the  act  granting  delegates  to  Annapolis,  it  is 
provided  that  they  be  allowed  and  receive  only  '■half 
wages  j'  as  was  allowed  to  the  delegates  from  the  seve- 
ral counties.  The  reason  alleged  is — that  the  bur- 
gesses of  the  several  boroughs  in  England  were  only 
allowed  half  wages,  in  respect  to  the  salary  of  the 
knights  of  the  shires. 

Wornell  Hunt,  Esquire,  was  appointed  and  conti- 
nued the  recorder  of  the  city,  under  the  new  charter — 
he  having  acted  as  such  under  the  old  city  regime. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  113 

-_  jj  In  1718,  commissioners  were  appointed  to 
survey  and  lay  out  ten  acres  of  the  public  pas- 
ture, lying  on  the  north  side  of  the  city,  and  to  the 
'eastward  of  the  hill,  known  as  the  powder-house  hill' — 
into  twenty  half  acre  lots,  for  the  enlargement  and  im- 
provement of  the  town,  and  for  the  'better  encourage- 
ment of  the  poor  tradesmen  to  dwell  in  the  town,  and 
carry  on  their  respective  trades.' 

These  lots  were  to  be  taken  up  by  any  person  who 
would  build  a  dwelling-house  on  the  same — except 
persons  owning  lots  within  the  city — who  were  pro- 
hibited from  taking  any  of  them  up,  until  two  years 
had  expired. 

This  addition  to  the  town,  was  called  'New  Town.' 
The  hill  mentioned  above,  still  retains  the  name  of 
'Powder-house  hill,'  although  no  vestage  of  the  house 
remains. 

The  ferry-landing  then,  was  within  the  mouth  of 
the  creek,  and  laid  to  the  west  of  the  pond,  known  as 
the  Swimming  pond. 

The  general  assembly  in  this  year,  appointed  James 
Stoddart,  Esquire,  to  survey  and  lay  off  anew  the 
city  of  Annapolis  ;*  the  original  plat  of  the  town 
which  had  been  made  by  Mr.  Richard  Beard,  having 

*  Mr.  Stoddart  in  his  survey,  lays  out  the  town  as  containing  'six 
million  two  hundred  and  twenty -seven  thousand  three  hundred  and 
eighty-four  square  feet  more  or  less,  which  makes  one  hundred  and 
forty-two  acres,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  square  perches,  and 
two  hundred  nine  and  three  quarter  square  feet.'  And  the  public 
circle  about  the  state-house  to  be  in  'diameter,  628  feet — and  the  cir- 
cumference 1159  feeti  and  contains  within  it  two  hundred  and  eigh- 
teen thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-eight  square  feet  more  or  less.* 
And  the  church  circle,  in  'diameter  to  be  346  feet,  and  the  circum- 
ference 1087  feet — containing  ninety-four  thousand  twenty-five  and 
a  half  square  feet  more  or  less,' 

10* 


114  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

been  destroyed  at  the  burning  of  the   state-house  in 
1704. 

In  1720  a  grant  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  of  ground  for  a  '■sawyerh  yard^  was  made 
to  a  Mr.  Edward  Smith. 

In  this  year  (1727)  Mr.  William  Parks  of 
this  city,  was  appointed  to  print  a  compilation 
of  the  laws  of  the  province ;  there  had  been  no  prin- 
ter it  seems  until  the  assembly  passed  an  act  this  year 
for  his  encouragement.  This  collection  of  the  laws  of 
Maryland  is  now  nearly  out  of  print — but  few  copies 
remaining — and  is  held  by  the  few  that  own  a  copy  of 
it,  as  a  rare  and  curious  body  of  laws  as  passed  by  our 
early  legislators. 
_g„  In  1728,  Henry  Ridgely,  Mordecai  Ham- 
mond, and  John  Welsch,  or  any  two  of  them, 
were  appointed  by  an  act  of  assembly,  and  empowered 
to  survey,  lay  out  and  mark,  'sixty  feet  in  breadth 
on  the  water,  three  hundred  and  sixty  feet  in  length, 
and  twenty-five  feet  at  the  head  of  the  land  formerly 
allotted  to  build  a  custom-house  on,  and  which  was 
to  be  vested  in  fee  simple  in  the  corporation  of  An- 
napolis— provided  a  market-house  was  built  thereon, 
within  two  years  after  such  survey.' 

This  land  thus  ordered  to  be  laid  off,  is  the  pub- 
lic square  at  the  head  of  the  dock,  and  is  still  held 
by  the  corporate  authorities  of  our  city. 

In  this  year  (1733)  the  sum  of  jESOOO  was 
appropriated  for  purchasing  convenient  ground 
in  the  city,  for  the  use  of  the  public,  and  for  build- 
ing a  government-house,  designed  for  the  goveriior's 
residence. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  115 

_«^  In  1736,  'Charles  Hammond,  Philip  Ham- 
mond, Vachel  Denton,  Daniel  Dulany,  Esquires, 
and  Richard  Warfield,'  were  empowered  to  purchase 
a  piece  of  ground  within  the  town,  for  a  new  public 
jail,  to  contract  for  the  material,  and  employ  work- 
men to  complete  it. 

I7d.n  ^'^  ^^^^  ^^^^  (1740)  Mr.  Jonas  Green  was 
appointed  printer  to  the  province,  a  situation  he 
held  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
March,  1768,  being  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years, 
that  he  enjoyed  the  patronage  and  confidence  of  the 
province ;  he  was  a  man  of  ready  wit,  and  great 
benevolence. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1745,  he  issued  the 
first  number  of  the  'Maryland  Gazette,'  and 
which  he  edited  for  twenty-one  years.  After  his  death, 
it  was  conducted  by  his  widow,  Mrs.  Anne  Catha- 
rine Green,  aided  by  her  son  William ;  and  has  ever 
since  been  published,  down  to  the  present  time,  by 
some  one  of  his  descendants.  Its  late  editor,  Mr. 
Jonas  Green,*  is  the  grand-son  of  the  first  editor. 
The  Gazette  was  the  oldest  newspaperf  published  in 
the  United  States,  and  is  invaluable  as  a  chronicle 
of  the  olden  times,  for  the  great  amount  of  interest- 
ing matter  contained  in  its  files.  The  passing  events 
of  importance,  civil,  political,  religious,  in  Europe 
and  America,  appear  to  have  been  faithfully  record- 
ed in  it. 

The  first  public  horse-racing  at  or  near  Annapolis, 

*  it  is  a  fact  worthy  of  notice,  that  the  late  editor  has  an  unbro- 
ken  series  of  this  valuable  paper,  from  its  first  issue,  down  to  the 
present  period,  (1839.) 

t  The  Gazette  ceased  to  be  published  in  the  latter  part  of  1839. 


116  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

is  advertised  in  the  Maryland  Gazette,  Ho  take  place 
on  the  30th  and  31st  days  of  May,  1745 — to  be  run 
at  John  Conners,*  in  Anne  Arundel  county.  The  first 
day's  purse  £10 — the  second  £b — to  be  run  for  by 
any  horse,  mare  or  gelding,  (*  Old  Ranter^  and  *Lim- 
ber-Sides'  excepted,)  to  carry  115  pounds,  three  heatSj 
the  course  two  miles,  entrance  money  fifteen  shillings 
the  first  day,  and  ten  shillings  the  second  day^ 

How  this  race  came  off,  we  are  not  informed.  From 
the  exclusion  of  *01d  Ranter'  and  'Limber-Sides,'  we 
may  infer  that  they  were  somewhat  celebrated  in  their 
day.  Can  any  of  our  racers  trace  the  pedigree  of 
their  horses  to  those  old  sires  of  the  Maryland  turf? 
The  same  paper  states,  that  on  the  first  of 
March,  of  this  year — 'from  10  'till  near  12 
o'clock,  p.  M.,  we  had  a  remarkable  appearance  of 
the  aurora  borealis,  or  northern  twilight.  It  extend- 
ed a  full  quarter  of  the  compass,  and  in  some  places 
resembled  a  red  hot  oven.  The  coruscations  or  streams 
of  light,  which  were  numerous,  and  continually  chang- 
ing shape  and  situation,  reached  near  fifty  degrees 
towards  the  zenith.' 

The  two  following  extracts  are  taken  from  the 
Gazette : 

'March  24th,  1746.  The  exit  of  the  rebellion  was 
celebrated  here  by  firing  off  guns,  drinking  loyal  healths, 
and  other  demonstrations  of  joy.  There  was  a  ball 
in  the  evening — the  whole  city  was  illuminated,  and 
a  great  quantity  of  punch  given  amongst  the  populace 
at  the  bond-fire.' 

*  He  kept  a  public  house  about  seven  miles  from  London  Town, 
towards  West  river — most  probably  at  the  place  so  well  known  as 
'Redmiles's  Tavern.' 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  117" 

*July  15.  The  gentlemen  belonging  to  the  ^Ancient 
South  River  Club,^  to  express  their  loyalty  to  his  ma- 
jesty, on  the  success  of  the  inimitable  Duke  of  Cum- 
berland's obtaining  a  complete  victory  over  the  preten- 
der, and  delivering  us  from  persecution  at  home,  and 
popery  and  invasion  from  abroad,  have  appointed  a 
grand  entertainment  to  be  given  at  their  club-house, 
on  Thursday  next.' 

This  extract  is  made  out  of  respect  to  that  very 
respectable  and  ancient  club,  which  is  still  in  ex- 
istence, and  is  in  all  probability  the  oldest  club  in  the 
United  States  of  America.  The  worthy  descendants 
of  the  old  clubberSy  still  meet  on  their  appointed  day, 
( Thursday)  around  the  festive  bocird,  a'hd  drink  to  the 
memory  of  by-gone  days. 

Three  companies  raised  in  this  province  by  cap- 
tains Campbell,  Crofts,  and  Jordan,  sailed  from  An- 
napolis, to  join  other  forces  destined  for  the  reduc- 
tion of  Canada.  It  is  said,  the  men  'embarked  with 
cheerful  hearts  and  in  high  spirits,  all  well  clothed 
and  accoutred.' 

The  editor,  (Mr.  Green,)  from  whose  paper  many 
extracts  have  been  and  will  be  made — says,  'October 
29th,  (Thursday)  being  the  anniversary  of  the  birth 
of  his  most  sacred  majesty,  our  only  rightful  sove- 
reign king,  George  the  Second,  (whom  God  long  pre- 
serve) when  his  majesty  completed  his  63rd  (a  grand 
climacterical)  year,  the  same  was  observed  here  with 
firing  of  cannon,  drinking  loyal  healths,'  &c.,  and  in 
his  paper  of  the  11th  of  November — says,  'Wednes- 
day last,  being  the  fifth  of  November,  that  never  to 
be  forgotten  day  of  thanksgiving — the  reverend  Mr. 
Whitefield  preached  here  a  very  good  sermon  suitable 


118  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

to  the  occasion,  from  these  words  in  Prov.  xiv.  28 : 
'Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation.'  Just  as  divine  ser- 
vice ended,  and  the  congregation  were  coming  out  of 
the  church,  the  ornament  orj  the  baclc  of  the  speaker's 
pew,  gave  way,  and  fell  forward  on  several  of  the  gen- 
tlemen of  the  assembly,  which  hurt  two  of  them  very 
much,  but  they  are  happily  now  recovered.' 

At  this  period  and  for  many  years  later,  AnnaDolis 
had  considerable  trade  and  commerce,  the  arrivaTTind 
clearances  of  ships  and  other  sea  vessels  were  frequent 
and  numerous ;  there  were  all  kinds  of  mechanics  and 
artificers  residing  in  the  place ;  and  from  the  number 
and  character  of  the  advertisements — many  merchants 
of  capital  and  c?hterprize  abode  here. 

It  was  no  unusual  thing  to  see  from  ten  to  twenty 
ships  and  other  vessels  leaving  the  harbour,  bound  for 
Europe  and  coastwise ;  and  the  port  was  frequently 
visited  by  the  king's  ships  of  war. 
1747  ^"  1747,  a  ship  arrived  here  with  rebels,  who 
were  termed  the  'king's  passengers' — and  who 
were  said  to  have  been  'favoured  with  transportation.' 

During  this  year  a  large  ship  belonging  to  Mr.  Wil- 
liams Roberts,  of  this  place,  was  launched  here,  called 
the  ^Rumney  and  Long^  after  the  names  of  the  builders. 
The  first  ship-yard  in  Annapolis,  that  we  learn  of,  was 
established  about  this  period,  and  located  a  few  feet 
below  the  stone  bridge,  leading  to  the  grave-yard, 
the  creek  then,  made  up  beyond  the  present  jail.  The 
name  of  this  creek  is  now  lost ;  the  water  has  receded 
since  that  time,  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  where 
the  ship-yard  was  then  situated. 

This  Mr.  Roberts  built  and  occupied  the  house  in 
which  colonel  Henry  Maynadier  now  resides.     He  had 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  119 

a  blacksmiths  shop  to  the  north  of  his  dwelling,  on 
which  was  a  steeple,  and  in  which  hung  the  only 
bell  then  in  the  city,  and  by  which  the  time  of  the  in- 
habitants was  regulated,  until  the  large  bell — now  in 
St.  Anne's  church — 'Was  received.  Below  this  shop 
his  sailmakers  and  other  shops  necessary  for  carrying 
on  ship  building  were  erected.  A  Mr.  Kirkwell  and 
Blackwell,  ship  builders,  were  also  in  his  employment. 

Tradition  tells  us,  that  they  built  the  'brig  Lovely 
Nancy' — at  the  launch  of  which  the  following  incident 
occurred.  She  was  on  the  stocks,  and  the  day  ap- 
pointed to  place  her  on  her  destined  element,  a  large 
concourse  of  persons  assembled  to  witness  the  launch, 
among  whom  was  an  old  white  woman  named  Sarah 
McDaniel,  who  professed  fortune-telling,  and  was  call- 
ed 'a  witch.^  She  was  heard  to  remark — 'the  Lovely 
Nancy  will  not  see  water  to-day,*  The  brig  moved 
finely  at  first,  and  when  expectation  was  at  its  height 
to  see  her  glide  into  the  water,  she  suddenly  stopped, 
and  could  not  be  again  moved  on  that  day.  This  oc- 
currence created  much  excitement  amongst  the  specta- 
tors ;  and  captain  Slade  and  the  sailors  were  so  fully 
persuaded  that  she  had  been  ^bewitched,''  that  they  re- 
solved to  duck  the  old  woman.  In  the  meantime  she 
had  disappeared  from  the  crowd;  they  kept  up  the 
search  for  two  or  three  days,  during  which  time  she  lay 
concealed  in  a  house  that  stood  on  the  lot  opposite  to 
the  present  dwelling  of  Robert  Welch,  of  Ben,  Esquire. 

The  'Lovely  Nancy,'  did  afterwards  leave  the  stocks, 
and  is  said  to  have  made  several  prosperous  voyages. 

There  was  at  a  later  period,  another  ship-yard  on  the 
south-west  side  of  the  city,  at  the  termination  of 
Charles  street,  where  the   'Matilda,'  and  the  'Lady 


120  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

Lee'  were  launched— the  first  was  owned  by  Samuel 
Chase,  Esquire,  and  the  latter  by  governor  Lee. 

There  was  a  merchant  at  this  period  residing  on 
the  banks  of  the  Severn,  below  Mr.  Selby's  present 
dwelling — named  Woolstenholm,  he  had  a  long  range 
of  warehouses,  no  vestige  of  which  now  remains.  A 
wooden  platform  supported  by  posts  constituted  his 
wharf. 

A  large  blockmaker's  establishment  stood  where  Mr. 
Goodman's  store  and  dwelling  now  is.  There  were 
several  large  frame  buildings  on  each  side  of  Hanover^ 
street,  as  also  opposite  to  the  present  ball-room.  These 
were  said  to  have  belonged  to  the  neutral  French,  and 
was  occupied  by  them  during  the  war  between  the 
French  and  English  colonies ;  they  were  also  used  as 
hospitals  during  our  revolution — soon  after  that  period 
they  were  pulled  down  in  consequence  of  their  dilapi- 
dated condition. 

On  the  site  of  Mrs.  Bowie's  residence,  in  Church 
street,  formerly  stood  the  'Three  Blue  Ball'  tavern, 
which  was  kept  by  a  Mr.  John  Ball.  This  was  then 
the  property  of  Mr.  Stephen  West,  who  remitted  bills 
in  his  own  name,  called  'Stephen  West's  money.' 
Mr.  West  resided  at  the  wood-yard  in  Prince  George's 
county,  and  owned  considerable  property  in  this  city. 
This  property  was  purchased  by  colonel  Thomas  Hyde, 
who  added  the  present  corner  building,  and  also 
.built  the  houses  in  which  Doctor  Dennis  Claude  and 
Mr.'  George  Mackubins  now  reside.  The  house  of 
Doctor  Claude  was  formerly  the  'Annapolis  coffee- 
house.' 

The  building  occupied  by  Mrs.  Anne  Harwood,  in 
Charles  street,  is  said  to  be  the  most  ancient  house  now 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  121 

standing  in  the  city.  It  was  used  as  the  printing  office 
of  the  'Maryland  Gazette,'  at  its  establishment.  The 
house  in  which  the  cashier  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of 
Maryland  resides,  was  formerly  a  tavern,  and  kept  by 
a  Mr.  William  Reynolds.  The  small  brick  house  on 
Doctor's  street,  now  used  as  the  office  of  the  Annapo- 
lis and  Elkrige  Railroad  Company,  was  a  stocking 
manufactory,  and  conducted  by  John  Bail  and  Benja- 
min Beall ;  it  was  regarded  as  a  great  curiosity,  but 
did  not  succeed. 

West  street,  then  called  Coiopen  lane,  had  at  this  pe- 
riod but  three  houses  built  on  it.  The  most  considerable 
one  was  a  tavern  kept  by  a  Mrs.  McCloud  ;  it  was 
afterwards  used  for  a  circulating  library — the  projector 
and  proprietor  of  which  was  a  Mr.  William  Rind.  It 
subsequently  came  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Allen 
Quynn.  Not  many  years  since  it  was  purchased  by 
the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Harris,  and  by  him  modified  and 
improved,  and  is  now  an  elegant  residence,  and  owned 
and  occupied  by  John  Johnson,  Esquire.  The  house 
in  which  Mr.  McParlin  lives,  and  that  known  as  'Hun- 
ter's Tavern,'  were  both  erected  about  this  time.  The 
next  house  built  on  that  street  was  the  Hallam  Theatre. 

The  old  market-house  stbod  just  below  the  present 
gun-house,  and  was  about  half  the  size  of  the  present 
one.  This  was  the  first  regular  market-house  built  in 
Annapolis,  and  was  erected  after  the  year  1717,  as  will 
appear  by  the  following  extracts  from  the  MS.  pro- 
ceedings of  the  corporation. 

In  1716,  the  corporation  took  into  consideration 
'whether  a  market-house   was  requisite   or  not,   and 
resolved,  nemine  contradicente^  that  it  is  very  requisite,' 


11 


123  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

and  determined  it  should  be  built  on  or  near  the  state- 
house  hill. 

In  1717,  they  resolved  that  'none  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  city  shall  buy  any  fflesh  or  ffish,  living  or  dead, 
eggs,  butter,  or  cheese,  (oysters  excepted)  at  their  own 
houses,  but  shall  repair  to  and  buy  the  same  at  the  fflagg 
staffe,  on  the  state-house  hill,  untill  such  a  time  as  there 
shall  be  a  market-house  built — on  penalty  of  I65.  Sd. 
current  money,  &c.  And  that  the  market  be  opened 
at  8  or  9  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  that  the  drum 
beats  half  quarter  of  an  hour  to  give  notice  thereof, 
and  that  no  person  presumes  to  buy  any  thing  untill 
the  drum  be  done  beating,  and  that  the  market  days 
be  on  Wednesday  and  Saturday  every  week.' 

There  was  a  large  range  of  buildings  near  the  post- 
office,  called  'Calvert's  row' — they  were  used  by  Mr. 
Peale  as  exhibition  rooms,  within  the  recollection  of 
some  of  the  present  inhabitants  of  this  place  ;  and  in 
the  only  remaining  one  of  which,  Mr.  Jonas  Green 
now  resides.  The  building  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Mrs.  Lloyd,  was  built  by  governor  Ogle,  as  a  family 
residence ;  additions  and  improvements  were  made  to 
it  by  his  son. 

The  house  formerly  occupied  by  Charles  Carroll,  of 
Carrollton,  Esquire,  is  of  a  more  modern  date ;  it  was 
built  for  a  family  residence.  An  upper  room  of  this 
house  was  used  as  a  catholic  chapel  during  Mr.  Car- 
roll's residence  there,  and  until  the  present  chapel  was 
built.  There  was  for  some  time  a  resident  priest  in 
the  family,  but  not  for  a  few  years  previous  to  Mr. 
Carroll's  removal  from  this  city. 

Coeval  with  these,  was  the  old  church,  which  stood 
on  the  site  of  the  present  Episcopal  church,  it  was 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  123 

built  of  brick,  and  was  the  only  one  in  the  place. 
It  was  originally  built  in  the  form  of  the  letter  T, — 
neatly  finished  inside.  The  principal  entrance  was 
towards  the  east.  It  was  in  a  ruinous  condition  pre- 
vious to  the  revolution.  Its  minister  often  remon- 
strated with  his  congregation,  and  urged  them  to 
repair  or  rebuild  it,  but  did  not  succeed  until  the  fol- 
lowing poem  appeared  in  the  Maryland  Gazette,  de- 
scriptive of  the  old  church,  pleading  its  own  cause : 
'To  the  very  worthy  and  respectable  inhabitants  of 
Annapolis,  the  humble  petition  of  their  old  church, 
sheweth, 

•That,  late  in  century  the  last, 

By  private  bounty,  here  were  placed, 

My  sacred  walls,  and  tho',  in  truth, 

Their  stile  and  manner  be  uncouth ; 

Yet,  whilst  no  structure  met  mine  eye, 

That  even  with  myself  could  vie, 

A  goodly  edifice  1  seemed. 

And  pride  of  all  Saint  Anne's  was  deemed. 

How  changed  the  times !  for  now,  all  round, 

Unnumbered  stately  piles  abound. 

Ail  better  built,  and  looking  down 

On  me  quite  antequated  grown. 

Left  unrepaired,  to  time  a  prey, 

I  feel  my  vitals  fast  decay ; 

And  often  have  I  heard  it  said. 

That  some  good  people  are  afraid. 

Least  I  should  tumble  on  their  head. 

Of  which,  indeed;  this  seems  a  proof — 

They  seldom  come  beneath  my  roof. 

The  stadt-house,  that,  for  public  good, 

With  me  co-eval  long  had  stood  ; 

With  me  full  many  a  storm  had  dared. 

Is  now  at  length  to  be  repaired : 

Or,  rather,  to  be  built  anew. 

An  honour  to  the  land  and  you. 

Whilst  I,  alone,  not  worth  your  care, 

Am  left  your  sad  neglect  to  bear. 


124  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

Witli  grief,  in  yonder  field,  hard  by, 

A  sister-ruin  I  espy  ; 

Old  Bladen's  palace,  once  s6  famed, 

And  now  too  well,  the /oily  named. 

Her  roof  all  tottering  to  decay. 

Her  walls  a  mouldering  all  away ; 

She  says,  or  seems  to  say,  to  me, 

•Such  too,  ere  tong,  thy  fate  shall  be.' 

Tho',  now  forever  gone  and  Jost, 

I  blush  to  say,  how  little  cost. 

The  handsome  pile  would  have  preserved. 

Till  some  new  prefect  had  deserved 

A  mansion  here,  from  us,  to  have 

As  good  as  Carolina  gave . 

But  party,  faction  (friends  that  still 

Have  been  the  foes  of  public  weal) 

77ie  dogs  of  war  against  her  slipped. 

And  all  her  rising  honours  nipped. 

Of  sunshine  oft  a  casual  ray. 

Breaks  in  upon  a  cloudy  day, 

O'erwhelm'd  with  woe ;  methinks,  I  see 

A  ray  of  hope  thus  dart  on  me. 

Close  at  my  door,  on  my  own  land, 

Placed  there,  it  seems,  by  your  command> 

I've  seen,  I  own,  with  some  surprise, 

A  novel  structure  sudden  rise. 

There  let  the  stranger  stay,  for  me. 

If  virtue's  friend,  indeed  she  be. 

I  would  not,  if  I  could,  restrain, 

A  moral  stage ;  yet,  would  I  fain 

Of  your  indulgence  and  esteem, 

At  least,  an  equal  portion  claim. 

And,  decency,  without  my  prayers. 

Will  surely  whisper  in  your  ears, 

•To  pleasure,  if  such  care  you  shew, 

A  mite  to  duty,  pray  bestow.' 

Say,  does  my  rival  boast  the  art 

One  solid  comfort  to  impart. 

Or  heal,  like  me,  the  broken  heart  ? 

Does  she,  like  me,  pour  forth  the  strain 

Of  peace  on  earth,  good  vrill  to  men? 

Merit  she  has  ;  but,  let  me  say, 

The  highest  merit  of  a  play. 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  125 

Tho',  Shakespeare  wrote  it,  but  to  name 
With  mine,  were  want  of  sense  or  shame. 
Why  should  I  point  to  distant  times. 
To  kindred  and  congenial  climes, 
Where,  spite  of  many  a  host  of  foes. 
To  God  a  mighty  temple  rose  ? 
Why  point  to  every  land  beside 
Whose  honest  aim  it  is,  a  pride. 
However  poor  it  be,  yet  still, 
At  least,  to  make  God's  house"genteel  ? 
Here,  in  Annapolis  alone, 
God  has  the  meanest  house  in  town. 
The  premises  considered,  I 
With  humble  confidence  rely, 
That,  Phenix-like,  I  soon  shall  rise, 
From  my  own  ashes  to  the  skies  ; 
Your  mite,  at  least,  that  you  will  pay, 
^nd  your  petitioner  shall  pray.' 

The  publication  of  this  poem,  had  a  better  effect 
than  all  the  minister's  previous  expostulations,  and 
his  congregation  at  last  resolved  to  put  up  a  new 
building.  Accordingly,  the  old  church  was  razed  to 
the  ground,  but  the  erection  of  a  new  one  was  pre- 
vented for  a  time,  by  the  revolution  which  soon  after 
took  place.  The  theatre  was  used  as  church  and 
forum,  until  the  erection  of  the  present  church. 

A  palisade  and  white  railing  enclosed  the  old  church- 
yard, which  was  at  that  time  the  city  grave-yard. 

The  last  Indian  tribe  which  was  known  to  frequent 
Annapolis,  is  said  to  have  lived  on  the  Potomac.  This 
tribe,  the  name  of  which  is  now  lost  even  in  tradition, 
(sometimes  more  enduring  than  musty  records) — ex- 
changed their  lands  with  the  Calvert  family  for  lands 
in  Baltimore  county,  where  game  was  more  plenty  ; 
and,  as  the  white  population  increa.sed,  they  retired 
to  the  Susquehanna, 


126  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  Eastern  Shore  tribes  visited  Annapolis  occa- 
sionally, previous  to  the  revolution  ;  and  the  visits  of 
old  King  Abraham  and  his  Queen  Sarah  are  still  re- 
collected by  some  few  of  the  inhabitants  of  our  town. 

At  a  county  court  held  here  on  Tuesday,  the  9th 
of  July  of  this  year,  a  'Mrs.  S.  C.  of  Patapsco,  was 

fined  the  sum  of  one  penny,  for  whipping  the  R d 

Mr.  N 1  W r  with  a  hiccory  switch ;  it  being 

imagined  by  the  court  that  he  well  deserved  it.' 

About  this  period,  a  jockey-club  was  instituted  here, 
'consisting  of  many  principal  gentlemen  in  this,  and  in 
the  adjacent  provinces,  many  of  whom  in  order  to  en- 
courage the  breed  of  this  noble  animal,  imported  from 
England,  at  a  very  great  expense,  horses  of  high  re- 
putation.' This  club  existed  for  many  years.  'The 
races  at  Annapolis  were  generally  attended  by  a  great 
concourse  of  spectators,  many  coming  from  the  ad- 
joining colonies.  Considerable  sums  were  bet  on 
these  occasions.  Subscription  purses  of  a  hundred 
guineas  were  for  a  long  time  the  highest  amount  run 
for,  but  subsequently  were  greatly  increased.  The 
day  of  the  races  usually  closed  with  balls,  or  theatri- 
cal amusements.'  The  race  course  at  this  time  and 
for  many  years  after,  was  located  on  that  part  of  the 
city  just  beyond  Mr.  Severe's  blacksmith  shop,  em- 
bracing a  circle  of  one  mile,  taking  in  all  that  portion 
of  the  town  now  built  up. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  in  this  year,  a  race  was 
run  on  this  course  between  governor  Ogle's  Bay  Geld- 
ings and  col.  Plater's  Grey  Stallion^  and  won  by  the 
former — the  next  day  six  horses  started,  Mr.  Waters' 
horse  Parrotty  winning,  distancing  several  of  the  run- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  127 

ing  horses.  On  the  same- ground  some  years  after, 
Dr.  Hamilton's  ^horse  Figure,^  won  a  purse  of  fifty 
pistoles — beating  two,  and  distancing  three  others. 
^Figure^  was  a  horse  of  great  reputation — it  is  stated 
of  him  that,  'he  had  won  many  Jifties — and  in  the 
year  1763,  to  have  received  premiums  at  Preston  and 
Carlisle,  in  Old  England,  where  no  horse  would  enter 
against  him — he  never  lost  a  race.'  Subsequently, 
the  race  course  was  removed  to  a  field  some  short 
distance  beyond  the  city,  on  which  course  some  of  the 
most  celebrated  horses  ever  known  in  America  have 
run.  It  was  on  this  latter  course  that  Mr.  Bevans'  bay 
horse  *  Oscar, ^  so  renowned  in  the  annals  of  the  turf,  first 
ran.  Oscar  was  bred  on  Mr.  Ogle's  farm  near  this 
city — he  won  many  races,  and  in  the  fall  of  1808,  it 
is  well  remembered,  he  beat  Mr.  Bond's  '■First  ConsuV 
on  the  Baltimore  course,  who  had  challenged  the  con- 
tinent— running  the  second  heat  in  7  m.  40  s.,  which 
speed  had  never  been  excelled. 

*  Old  Ranter''  was  '  Oscar^s^  great,  great,  grand  sire. 

In  the  Maryland  Gazette  of  the  18th  June, 
1752,  appeared  the  following  advertisement : 
'By  permission  of  his  honour  the  president,*  at  the 
new  theatre,  in  Annapolis,  by  the  company  of  com- 
medians  from  Virginia,  on  Monday  next,  being  the 
22d  of  this  instant,  {June)  will  be  performed,  'The 
Beggars  Opera :'  likewise,  a  farce,  called  the  'Lying 
Valet' — to  begin  precisely  at  7  o'clock.  Tickets  to  be 
had  at  the  printing  office.  Box  10*.,  pit  7s.  6rf.  No 
persons  to  be  admitted  behind  the  scenes.' 

•  Benjamin  Tasker,  Esquire,  was  then  the  president  or  governor 
of  the  province. 


128  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  principal  performers  belonging  to  this  compa- 
ny, appear  to  have  been  Messrs.  Wynell,  Herbert, 
Eyanson,  Kean,  and  Miss  Osborne — they  performed 
while  here,  'The  Busy  Body,'  'Beaux  Stratagem,* 
^Recruiting  Officer,'  'London  Merchant,'  'Cato,'  'Rich- 
ard III,'  with  many  others.  After  leaving  Annapolis, 
they  performed  at  'Upper  Marlborough,'  'Piscattaway,' 
on  the  Western  Shore,  and  at  'Chester  Tovirn,'  in  Kent 
county,  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland. 

During  the  time  they  performed  here,  a  Mr.  Richard 
Bricknell  and  company,  exhibited  some  curious  wax- 
figures,  representing  the  'Queen  of  Hungary  sitting  on 
her  throne,  and  the  Duke,  her  son,'  and  courtiers  in 
attendance. 

_„  The  first  lottery  drawn  in  this  province,  was 
at  Annapolis,  on  the  21st  September,  1753,  for 
the  purchase  of  a  'town  clock,  and  clearing  the  dock.' 
The  highest  prize  100  pistoles — tickets  half  a  pistole. 
The  managers  were  Benj.  Tasker,  junior,  George 
Stewart,  Walter  Dulany,  and  ten  other  gentlemen  of 
this  place. 

On  the  11th  of  August,  of  this  year,  Horatio  Sharpe, 
Esq.,  governor  of  the  province,  arrived  here,  in  the 
ship  Molly,  captain  Nicholas  Coxen,  from  London. 

In  September,  (1753)  several  companies  under  the 
command  of  captain  Dagworthy,  lieutenants  Forty,  and 
Bacon,  marched  from  Annapolis  against  the  French 
on  the  Ohio. 

_-         On  the  3d  of  April,  1755,  general  Braddock, 
governor  Dinwiddie  and  commodore  Keppel  ar- 
rived here,  on  their  way  to  Virginia.     And  on  the  11th 
and  12th  of  the  same  month,  arrived  governor  Sherley, 
of  Boston,  governor  De  Lancy,  of  New  York,  and 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  12& 

governor  Morris,  of  Philadelphia,  with  a  number  of 
distinguished  gentlemen — they  left  here  accompanied  by 
governor  Sharpe,  for  Alexandria,  and  on  the  17th  they 
returned  to  Annapolis  on  their  way  to  their  respective 
governments.  A  fe\y  days  after,  governor  Sharpe  set 
out  for  Frederick  Town. 

This  period,  which  just  preceded  the  defeat  of  gene- 
ral Braddock,  near  Fort  Du  Quesne,  appears  to  have 
been  a  busy  time  with  their  excellencies. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  of  this  year,  doctor 
Charles  Carroll  departed  this  life,  aged  sixty-four 
years — he  had  resided  in  Annapolis  about  forty  years. 
For  some  years  after  his  coming  to  this  city,  he  'prac- 
tised physic  with  good  success  ;  but  laying  that  aside, 
he  commenced  trade  and  merchandise,  by  which  he 
amassed  a  very  considerable  fortune.'  In  1737,  he 
was  chosen  a  member  to  the  low^er  house  of  assembly, 
in  which  station  he  is  said  to  have  spared  no  pains  or 
application  to  render  himself  serviceable  to  the  county, 
and  his  constituents,  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  is 
represented  to  have  been  'a  gentleman  of  good  sense 
and  breeding,  courteous  and  affable,'  and  was  held  in 
high  esteem  by  his  fellow-citizens.  Dr.  Carroll  owned 
all  of  the  ground  on  the  lower  part  of  Church  street, 
on  the  south  side,  extending  back  to  the  Duke  of  Glos- 
ter  street;  and  in  1749  opened  Green  street, — adver- 
tising to  sell  or  lease  lots  on  either  side  of  the  same. 

Mr.  Green  says  in  his  Gazette  o*f  the  6th  of  Nov., 
of  this  year,  *we  are  now  about  entrenching  the  town. 
If  the  gentlemen  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Annapolis, 
were  to  send  their  forces  to  assist  in  it,  a  few  days 
would  complete  the  work.' 

This  measure  it  would  seem,  was  taken  by  the  citi- 


130  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

zens,  in  consequence  of  the  'dreadful  murders  and  mas- 
sacres' committed  by  the  French  and  Indians  upon  the 
border  country,  and  serious  apprehensions  were  enter- 
tained by  the  inhabitants,  that  Annapolis  would  fall 
into  the  hands  of  their  'politic,  cruel  and  cunning  ene- 
mies.' It  was  asserted  by  a  writer  for  the  Gazette, 
that  the  Indians  'were  but  a  little  way  from  the  city, 
and  that  so  entire  w'as  their  defenceless  situation,  that 
even  a  small  party  of  twenty  or  thirty  Indians,  by 
marching  in  the  night  and  skulking  in  the  day  time, 
might  come  upon  them  unawares  in  the  dead  of  night, 
burn  their  houses,  and  cut  their  throats,  before  they 
could  put  themselves  in  a  posture  of  defence.'  Other 
writers  of  the  day,  seemed  to  think  that  there  was  no 
more  danger  of  'Annapolis  being  attacked  by  the  In- 
dians, than  London.'  The  fears  of  the  inhabitants 
were  soon  quieted,  by  the  return  of  several  gentlemen 
who  had  gone  as  volunteers  to  the  westward,  and  who 
reported  they  had  seen  no  Indians,  except  one^  and  he 
was  ^very  quiet^^  for  they  found  him  dead. 
„.  On  the  29th  of  March,  of  this  year,  (1757) 

governor  Sharpe  arrived  here  from  the  north- 
ward, accompanied  by  governor  Dobbs,  of  North  Caro- 
lina, and  governor  Dinwiddle,  of  Virginia. 

In  this  year,  the  small-pox  made  its  appearance  in 
Annapolis,  and  continued  to  afflict  and  alarm  the  in- 
habitants for  nine  months.  Scarcely  one  of  them 
escaped  the  disease.  Of  about  one  hundred  persons 
who  were  inoculated,  not  one  died,  while  those  who 
had  it  in  the  natural  way,  at  least  one  in  every  six  died. 
On  this  occasion  the  physicians  of  the  town  inoculated 
every  person  who  desired  it,  without  fee  or  reward. 

In  consequence  of  the  disease  being  here,  the  ge- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  131 

neral  assembly  was  prorogued  to  meet  in  Baltimore, 
•where  it  held  its  sesion  for  this  year. 

In  the  winter  of  this  year,  (1757,)  five  companies 
of  Royal  Americans^  were  quartered  upon  the  town. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Forts  on  the  Border  Country — Fort  Frederick — Redaction  of  Que- 
bec— A  Company  of  Comedians  at  Annapolis— »-Stone  Wind-mill 
erected — Collection  for  the  sufferers  by  fire  at  Boston — Ball-room — 
Cold  winter — Stamp  Act — Proceeding  at  Annapolis  on — Maryland 
Gazette — Sons  of  Liberty — Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act — A  new  The» 
atre  opened — Gov.  Eden  arrives  at  Annapolis — His  character — 
Death  and  burial — Articles  of  Non-importation,  &c. — Arrival  of 
Brig  Good  Intent — Resolute  course  pursued  by  the  Association — 
Its  results — Mr.  Wm.  Eddis — Annapolis  described — Whitehall — 
Governor  Sharpe — His  character — Appropriation  to  build  the  pre- 
sent State-House — Commissioners  appointed — The  Foundation 
laid — Incident — Dimensions  of  the  building — The  Architect — An- 
niversary of  the  Proprietary's  birth — Rejoicings  at  Annapolis — La- 
dies of  Annapolis — Saint  Tamina  Society — Their  Proceedings — 
Theatre  opened — Trustees  appointed  by  the  Legislature,  to  the 
Theatre — Theatre  pulled  down — Causes  which  led  to  it — Mr.  Dun- 
lap — Trustees  appointed  to  build  a  new  Church — Meeting  of  the 
Citizens  of  Annapolis — Their  proceedings  on  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment for  blockading  the  Harbour  of  Boston — Some  portion  of  their 
Resolves  dissented  from  by  many  Citizens — Proceedings  of  the 
Dissentients — Burning  of  the  Brig  Peggy  Stewart— And  the  tea 
on  board — The  Proceedings  bad  thereon. 

Believing  the  following  statement  of  distances  be- 
tween the  several  forts  which  were  erected  for  the 
defence  of  the  border  country,  will  be  interesting  to 
many,  it  is  here  subjoined. 

'Fort  Frederick  and  Fort  Cumberland  stood  on  the 
north  bank  of  Potomac  river,  about  fifty  miles  distant 


132  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS. 

from  each  Other,  the  first  twelve  miles  beyond  Co- 
nococheague,  the  then  most  western  settlement.  Fort 
Loudoun  was  about  twenty-five  miles  north  from  Fort 
Frederick;  Rat/s  Town  fifty-three  miles  west  from 
Fort  Loudoun,  and  thirty-five  miles  northward  from 
Fort  Cumberland ;  the  distance  from  Rays  Town  to 
the  Loylhanning,  is  said  to  have  been  fifty-eight  miles, 
and  thence  to  Fort  Du  QuesnCf  was  computed  to  be 
about  thirty-five  miles.' 

Fort  Frederick  being  'the  only  monument  of  the 
ante-revolutionary  times,*  now  remaining  in  the  western 
parts  of  our  State,  deserves  to  have  handed  down  to 
posterity  all  that  can  be  now  collected  relative  to  its 
origin  and  present  ruins.  It  is  stated  by  Mr.  McMa- 
hon,  in  his  history  of  Maryland,  to  have  been  situated 
on  an  elevated  and  rather  commanding  position  in  the 
plains  along  the  Potomac,  distant  about  one-fourth  of 
a  mile  from  that  river,  and  about  ten  or  eleven  miles 
above  the  mouth  of  Conococheague  creek.  It  was 
constructed  of  the  most  durable  materials,  and  in  the 
most  approved  manner,  at  an  expense  of  upwards  of 
£6000.  When  Mr.  McMahon  saw  its  ruins  in  1828, 
the  greater  part  of  it  was  still  standing,  and  in  a  high 
state  of  preservation,  in  the  midst  of  cultivated  fields. 
According  to  a  description  given  of  it  at  its  construc- 
tion, its  exterior  lines  were  each  one  hundred  and 
twenty  yards  in  length,  (the  fort  being  quadrangular,) 
its  curtains  and  bastions  were  faced  by  a  thick  stone 
wall,  and  it  contained  barracks  sufficient  for  the  accom- 
modation of  several  hundred  men.  This  garrison  was 
built  under  the  personal  supervision  of  governor  Sharpe, 
iand  by  a  plan  of  his  own  ;  he  appears  to  have  taken 
great  interest  in  its  construction.     Its  first  commander 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  133 

was  captain  Dagworthy,  who  on  being  removed  to  the 
command  of  Fort  Cumberland,  was  succeeded  by 
captain  Alexander  Beall,  who  continued  in  the  com- 
mand of  this  fort  until  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  and  the  close  of  the  border  troubles. 

Governor  Sharpe,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Calvert,  dated 
Annapolis,  the  21st  of  August,  1756,  speaking  of  Fort 
Frederick,  says — 'I  thought  proper  to  build  Fort  Fre- 
derick of  stone,  which  step  I  believe  even  our  assem- 
bly will  now  approve  of,  though  I  hear  some  of  them 
sometime  since,  intimated  to  their  constituents  that  a 
stoccado  would  have  been  sufficient,  and  that  to  build 
a  fort  with  stone  would  put  the  country  to  a  great  and 
unnecessary  expense  ;  but  whatever  their  sentiments 
may  be  with  respect  to  that  matter,  I  am  convinced 
that  I  have  done  for  the  best,  and  that  my  conduct 
therein  will  be  approved  of  by  any  soldier,  and  by 
every  impartial  person.  The  fort  is  not  finished, 
but  the  garrison  are  well  covered,  and  will,  with  a 
little  assistance,  complete  it  at  their  leisure.  Our  bar- 
racks are  made  for  the  reception  and  accommodation 
of  200  men,  but  on  occasion  there  will  be  room  for 
twice  that  number.  It  is  situated  on  the  North  Moun- 
tain, near  Potomack  river,  about  fourteen  miles  beyond 
Conegochiegh,  and  four  on  this  side  Licking-creek. 
I  have  made  a  purchase  in  the  governor's  name  for  the 
use  of  the  country,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land  that  is  contiguous  to  it,  which  will  be  of  great 
service  to  the  garrison,  and  as  well  as  the  fort,  be 
found  of  great  use  in  case  of  future  expeditions  to  the 
westward,  for  it  is  so  situated  that  Potomack  will  be 
always  navigable  thence  almost  to  Fort  Cumberland, 


12 


134  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

the  flats  or  shallows  of  that  river  lying  between  Fort 
Frederick  and  Conegochiegh.' 

The  general  assembly  of  Maryland   in    1790,   ap- 
pointed an  agent  to  sell  and  convey  the  right  of  this 
State  to  one  hundred  acres  of  land  at  Fort  Frederick, 
in  Washington  county. — (See  resolution  No.  4.) 
.^.  On  the  30th  of  October,  in  this  year,  there 

was  great  rejoicing  here,  in  consequence  of  the 
reduction  of  Quebec,  by  the  troops  under  general 
Wolfe.  The  guns  at  the  'Point  Battery'  were  fired 
early  in  the  day.  The  military  paraded  through  the 
streets,  and  at  12  o'clock,  the  cannon  from  the  'Half- 
moon  Battery'  were  discharged.  'At  night  the  city 
was  illuminated,  and  the  governor  gave  a  public  ball 
in  the  council  chamber,  at  which  there  was  a  brilliant 
assemblage  of  ladies.' 

.  „„  -  Mr.  Green,  in  his  Gazette  of  the  7th  Febru- 
17d0.  •     .1  •  ,1  .    .         „  ,  . 

ary,  in  this  year,  says— 'by  permission  of  his 

excellency,  the  governor,  a  theatre  is  erecting  in  this 
city,  which  will  be  opened  soon  by  a  company  of 
comedians,  who  are  now  at  Chester  Town.' 

The  company  here  alluded  to,  arrived  at  Annapolis 
on  the  3d  of  March,  and  on  the  same  evening  opened 
the  theatre.  They  continued  to  perform  here  until  the 
12th  of  May  following,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  annexed 
list  of  performances,  which  is  given  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  the  curious  in  these  matters,  as  well  as  for 
the  gratification  of  the  lovers  of  the  drama. 


Plays. 

{"arces. 

March  3. 

Orphans, 

Lethe,  or  Esop  in  the  Shades, 

6. 

Recruiting  Officer, 

Miss  in  her  Teens. 

8. 

Venice  Preserved, 

Mock-Doctor. 

10. 

Richard  III. 

King  and  the  Miller. 

13. 

Provoked  Husband, 

Stage  Coach. 

ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  136 

Plays.  Farces. 

Mar.    16.    Fair  Penitent,  Anatomist. 

20.    Stratagem,  Lethe. 

22.    George  Barnwell,  Lying  Valet. 

24.    Busy-Body,  Mock-Doctor. 

27.    Revenge,  Lying  Valet. 

29.    Bold  Stroke  for  a  Wife,  Damon  and  Phillida. 
(In  Passion-week  the  theatre  was  closed.) 

April  7.    *Romeo  and  Juliet,  Stage  Coach. 

8.  Provoked  Hasband,  Honest  Yorkshireman. 

9.  Othello,  Devil  to  Pay. 

10.  Constant  Couple,  King  and  the  Miller. 

11.  fRoDieo  and  Juliet,  Miss  in  her  Teens. 

12.  Suspicious  Husband,  Mock-Doctor. 

14.  Richard  in.  (Ben.  of  Mr.  Douglass,)  Hob. 

15.  Fair  Penitent,  (Mr.  Palmer,)  Lying  Valet. 

16.  Venice  Preserved,  (Mr.  Murray,)  Devil  to  Pay. 

17.  Provoked  Husband,  (Mrs.  Douglass,)  Yorkshireman. 
19.  Revenge,  (Mr.  Hallam,)  Lethe. 

22.  Stratagem,  (Mrs.  and  Miss  Dowthaitt,)  Lying  Valet. 

23.  Orphan,  (Miss  Crane  and  Comp,)  Lethe. 

24.  Constant  Couple,  (Mr.  Morris,)     Yorkshireman. 
May    5.  Douglass,  (Master  A.  Hallam,)     Virgin  Unmasked. 

8.    Jew  of  Venice,   (Mrs.  Morris,)    Lethe. 
12.    Gamester,  (Mr.  Scott,)  Toy  Shop. 

From  this  place  the  company  went  to  'Upper  Marl- 
bro,'  and  performed  there  for  several  weeks. 

In  September  of  this  year,  the  stone  wind-mill  was 

built,  on  the  point  where  Fort  Severn  now  stands,  and 

was  then  'reckoned  to  be  one  of  the  best  built  mills  in 

the  country' — it  is  said  to  have  'ground  twelve  bushels 

in  an  hour.'     The  owner  of  the  mill  was  a  Mr.  James 

Disney.     It  was  destroyed  when  Fort  Severn  was  built. 

.««,         In  1761,  there  was  collected  in  this  city  and 
1761. 

province  for  the  sufferers  by  the  great  fire  at 

•  'Romeo,  by  a  young  gentleman,  for  his  diversion.' 
t  *With  the  funeral  procession  of  Juliet,  to  the  monument  of  the 
Ckipuletts.' 


Itf. 


136  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

Boston  in  March  of  this  year,  the  sum  of  $5940  62, 
a  collection  that  speaks  well  of  the  liberal  and  humane 
disposition  of  the  'ancient  city  and  province.' 

In  1764,  the  present  'ball-room'  was  built 
from  the  proceeds  of  a  lottery  drawn  here  for 
that  especial  purpose. 

The  winter  of  this  year  was  one  of  uncom- 
mon severity.  The  editor  of  the  Gazette  says, 
'on  Monday,  the  5th  of  February,  a  very  merry  set  of 
gentlemen  had  a  commodious  tent  erected  on  the  ice 
between  the  town  and  Greensbury's  point,  where  they 
had  an  elegant  dinner,  &c.  &c.,  and  in  the  afternoon 
diverted  themselves  with  dancing  of  reels,  on  skates, 
and  divers  other  amusements.' 

STAMP   ACT. 

On  the  27tb  of  August,  in  this  year,  'a  considerable 
number  of  people,  ^■Assertors  of  Bntish  American  privi- 
kgesf'  met  at  Annapolis  to  show  their  'detestation  of, 
and  abhorrence  to,  some  late  tremendous  attacks  on 
liberty,  and  their  dislike  to  a  certain  late  arrived  officer, 
a  native  of  this  province  !  They  curiously  dressed  up 
the  figure  of  a  man,  which  they  placed  in  a  one  horse 
eart,  malefactor  like,  with  some  sheets  of  paper  in  his 
hands  before  his  face.' 

'In  that  manner  they  paraded  through  the  streets  of 
the  town,  till  noon,  the  bell  at  the  same  time  tolling  a 
solemn  knell,  when  they  proceeded  to  the  hill,  and 
after  giving  it  the  Mosaic  Law,  at  the  whipping-post, 
placed  it  in  the  pillory,  from  whence  they  took  it,  and 
hung  it  on  a  gibbet  there  erected  for  that  purpose,  and 
set  fire  to  a  tar-barrel  underneath,  and  burnt  it  till  it 
fell  into  the  barrel.     By  the  many  significant  nods  of 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  137 

the  head,  while  in  the  cart,  it  may  be  said  to  have 
gone  off  very  penitently.' 

Such  was  the  reception  given  to  the  famous  stamp 
act,  by  the  citizens  of  Annapolis,  who  have  never 
been  known  to  falter  in  the  cause  or  defence  of  Ameri- 
can rights  and  liberty.  The  stamp-master  was  a  Mr. 
Hood,  he  imported  a  large  quantity  of  goods  and  offer- 
ed them  at  reduced  prices,  but  such  was  the  indigna- 
tion of  the  people,  that  no  one  would  purchase  of  him. 
He  made  his  escape  to  the  north,  previous  to  the  burn- 
ing of  his  effigy,  which  is  said  to  have  resembled  him 
wonderfully — and  in  his  haste  left  behind  him  the  ma- 
terials for  a  suit  of  tar  and  feathers,  with  which  the 
citizens  were  about  to  present  him,  for  his  zealous 
support  of  the  stamp  act. 

The  landing  of  this  officer  was  successfully  resisted 
at  first  by  the  citizens,  who  repaired  in  a  body  to  the 
dock  where  the  attempt  was  made;  a  scuffle  ensued 
in  which  the  only  three  citizens  now  known  to  have 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  this  resistance,  were  Mr. 
Charles  Farris,  Mr.  Abraham  Claude  and  Mr.  Thomas 
McNier,  the  last  of  whom,  had  his  thigh  broken  on 
the  occasion.  Although  they  prevented  the  landing  of 
this  officer  at  this  time  and  place,  yet  he  subsequently 
effected  a  landing  clandestinely,  and  was  rewarded  for 
his  perseverance,  as  above  mentioned. 

In  the  MSS.  Letter  Boole   of  governor  Sharpe,  is 
found  the  following  letter  from  him,  to  the  Earl  of 
Halifax,  dated  Annapolis,  the  5th  September,  1765, 
giving  an  account  of  the  stamp-officer's  reception  and 
treatment  by  the  citizens  of  Annapolis,  to  wit : 

'My  lord :  I  am  sorry  to  have   such   a  reason  for 
troubling  your  lordship,  but  it  is  my  duty  to  inform 
12* 


138  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

you,  that  the  proceedings  of  a  great  number  of  the 
people  in  this  province,  since  the  person  said  to  be  ap- 
pointed distributor  of  the  stamps  for  Maryland  arrived 
here,  gives  me  too  much  room  to  apprehend  they  will 
endeavour  to  prevent  the  stamp  act  having  its  intended 
effect.  Your  lordship  will,  I  presume,  long  before  this 
can  reach  you,  have  received  an  account  of  the  late 
riotous  proceedings  of  the  populace  of  Boston  and 
other  places  in  the  northern  colonies,  on  account  of 
that  new  act  of  parliament,  and  will  not  therefore,  I 
suppose,  be  surprised  at  receiving  similar  accounts 
from  other  parts  of  North  America,  nor  at  my  telling 
your  lordship  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  province, 
incited  by  their  example  or  actuated  by  the  same  spirit, 
were  not  satisfied  with  expressing  their  indignation 
against  their  countryman,  Mr.  Hood,  the  distributor, 
by  hanging  or  burning  him  in  ejigie,  but  having  in  the 
night  of  the  second  instant  assembled  to  the  number 
of  three  or  four  hundred,  in  or  near  this  place,  pulled 
down  a  house  which  he  was  repairing  for  the  reception 
of  a  cargo  of  goods  that  he  had  it  seems  imported  for 
sale.  Being  very  uneasy  and  much  terrified  at  the 
contemptuous  treatment  he  had  since  his  return  from 
England,  met  with  from  his  former  acquaintance,  and 
the  violent  proceedings  of  the  populace,  who  really 
are  not  to  be  restrained  on  this  occasion,  without  a 
miUtary  force. 

*Mr.  Hood  intimated  to  me,  that  if  I  thought  his 
resigning  the  office  would  reconcile  his  countrymen  to 
him,  and  would  advise  him  to  take  that  step,  he  would 
even  do  so,  but  as  I  could  not  take  upon  myself  to 
give  him  such  advice,  and  both  he  and  his  relations 
doubted  whether  he  could  while  the  ferment  continued, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  139 

be  safe  in  mine  or  any  other  house  in  the  province,  he 
has  retired  for  a  few  weeks  to  New  York.  To  what 
length  people  who  have  made  such  a  beginning,  may- 
go  to  render  the  act  of  parliament  ineffectual,  I  cannot 
tell,  but  am  very  apprehensive  that  if  the  stamp't  pa- 
per was  to  arrive  here  and  be  landed  at  this  time,  it 
would  not  be  in  my  power  to  preserve  it  from  being 
burnt,  as  there  is  no  place  of  security  here  wherein  it 
might  be  lodged,  and  the  militia  is  composed  of  such 
as  are  by  no  means  proper  to  be  appointed  a  guard 
over  it,  if  therefore  a  vessel  should  soon  arrive  here 
with  the  stamp't  paper,  I  shall  caution  the  master 
against  landing  it,  and  advise  him  either  to  lye  off  at 
a  distance  from  the  shore,  or  return  to  the  men-of- 
war  stationed  in  Virginia,  until  the  people  shew  a 
better  disposition,  or  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  receive 
from  your  lordship  some  instructions  about  it.' 

Captain  Brown,  commander  of  his  majesty's  sloop 
Hawke,  arrived  at  this  port  in  December,  1765,  with 
some  of  the  stamped  paper  destined  for  this  province. 
But  no  person  authorized  to  receive  and  distribute  it, 
being  here,  and  the  lower  house  of  assembly  and  the 
people  being  still  averse  to  its  reception,  it  was  never 
landed.  Governor  Sharpe  returned  three  boxes  con- 
taining the  stamped  paper,  to  England,  by  a  merchant 
ship,  the  Brandon,  captain  McLachlan,  in  December, 
1766. 

A  supplement  to  the  Maryland  Gazette  appeared  on 
the  31st  of  October,  in  deep  mourning.  The  editor 
determined  to  suspend  its  publication,  rather  than  sub- 
mit to  the  'intolerable  and  burthensome  terms,'  imposed 
en  all  newspapers  by  the  stamp  act,  declaring  in  this 
supplement, 


140  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS. 

'The  times  are 

Dreadfull, 

Dismal, 

Doleful, 

Dolorous,  and 

Dollar-less.' 
Oq  the  10th  of  December,  he  issued  *an  apparition 
of  the  late  Maryland  Gazette,'  and  resolved  to  re-estab- 
lish his  paper,  'under  the  firm  belief  that  the  odious 
stamp  act  would  never  be  carried  into  operation.' 

In  March,  1766,  the  ^Sons  of  Liberty,^  from 
Baltimore,  Kent,  and  Anne  Arundel  counties, 
met  at  this  place,  and  made  a  written  application  to 
the  chief  justice  of  the  provincial  court,  the  secretary 
and  commissary-general,  and  judges  of  the  land  office, 
to  open  their  respective  offices,  and  to  proceed  as  usual 
in  the  execution  of  their  duties.  This  demand  was 
complied  with,  and  the  stamp  act  virtually  became  null 
and  void. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  of  this  year,  general  joy  was 
diffiised  throughout  the  city,  by  the  arrival  of  an  ex- 
press, bringing  information  of  the  repeal  of  the  stamp 
act,  and  the  afternoon  was  spent  by  the  citizens  in 
congratulations  and  mirth,  and  'all  loyal  and  patriotic 
toasts  were  drank.' 

The  11th  of  June  following,  was  by  appointment 
of  the  mayor,  observed  here,  as  a  day  of  rejoicing  and 
festivity,  on  account  of  the  'glorious  news,' of  the  total 
repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  and  in  the  evening  the  city 
was  brilliantly  illuminated. 

TTfiQ        ^^  Saturday  evening,  the  18th  of  February, 

of  this  year,  (1769,)  the  new  theatre  was  again 

opened,  by  the  American  company  of  comedians,  w^ith 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  141 

the  tragedy  of  Romeo  and  Juliet.  The  company  then 
consisted  of  Messrs.  Hallam,  Jefferson,  Verling,  Wall, 
Darby,  Morris,  Parker,  Godwin,  Spencer,  Malone, 
Page,  Walker,  Osborne,  and  Burdett,  and  Mrs.  Jones, 
Walker,  Osborne,  Burdett,  Malone,  Parker,  and  Miss 
Hallam. 

This  company  appear  to  have  been  held  in  high  es- 
teem by  the  citizens  of  Annapolis,  for  their  perform- 
ances, especially  of  the  tragedy  of  Richard  III. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  in  this  year,  Robert  Eden, 
Esquire,  with  his  lady  and  family,  arrived  here  in  the 
ship  Lord  Baltimore.  On  the  ship's  coming  to  an- 
chor off  the  city,  she  fired  seven  guns,  which  were  re- 
turned by  an  equal  number,  but  on  the  governor's  land- 
ing in  the  afternoon,  he  was  met  by  all  the  members  of 
the  council  then  in  town,  and  a  great  number  of  the 
citizens,  under  a  discharge  of  all  the  cannon  on  the 
battery.  And  on  Tuesday  morning  *about  ten  o'clock, 
he  went  up  to  to  the  council-house y  attended  by  his 
lordship's  honourable  council,  where  his  commission 
was  opened  and  published.' 

Governor  Eden  succeeded  governor  Sharpe,  imme- 
diately on  his  arrival,  and  continued  to  govern  the 
affairs  of  the  province  until  1776,  when  he  returned  to 
England  in  consequence  of  the  revolution,  and  the 
formation  of  the  provisional  government  of  Maryland, 
which  was  at  this  period  established.  Governor  Eden 
is  represented  to  have  been  a  gentleman,  'easy  of 
access,  courteous  to  all,  and  fascinating  by  his  ac- 
complishments.' 

When  he  had  taken  his  departure,  his  property  was 
confiscated.  In  1784  he  returned  to  Annapolis,  to 
seek  the  restitution  of  his   property.     He  died  soon 


142  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

after  his  arrival,  in  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Richard  J.  Jones,  Esq.  He  was  buried  under  the 
pulpit  of  the  Episcopal  church  on  the  north  side  of 
Severn,  within  two  or  three  miles  of  this  place.  This 
church  was  some  years  since  burned  down. 

In  the  month  of  June,  this  year,  (1769,)  a  numerous 
meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Annapolis  was  held,  'called 
by  the  beating  of  the  drum,'  at  which  were  many 
gentlemen  from  the  several  counties  of  the  province, 
who  with  the  citizens  formed,  and  entered  into  'articles 
of  non-importation  of  British  superfluities,  and  for  pro- 
moting frugality,  economy,  and  the  use  of  American 
manufactures,'  and  passed  the  following  resolution  : 

^Resolved,  unanimously,  that  the  said  articles  be  most 
strictly  adhered  to,  and  preserved  inviolate ;  and  that 
each  and  every  gentleman  present  at  this  meeting,  will 
use  his  utmost  endeavours  to  those  laudable  ends.' 

Early  in  February  following,  the  citizens  of  Annapo- 
lis had  an  opportunity  afforded  them,  to  test  the  sin- 
cerity of  their  patriotism,  by  the  arrival  of  the  ^brig 
Good  Intenty  in  their  harbour,  with  a  cargo  of  British 
goods. 

Immediately  on  her  arrival,  a  meeting  of  the  citizens 
was  convened,  and  three  gentlemen  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  inquire  into  the  matter,  who  reported 
'that  the  goods  were  ordered  and  shipped  contrary  to 
the  articles  of  their  association,  and  ought  not  to  be 
landed.'  The  brig  was  accordingly  ordered  and  com- 
pelled to  return  to  London,  carrying  back  a  cargo  con- 
sisting of  European  goods,  to  the  value  of  ^10,000 
sterling. 

Thus  did  the  association  show  their  determination  to 
'adhere  strictly'  to  their  articles  of  non-importation, 


AMNALS    OP   ANNAPOLIS.  143 

and  proved  themselves  as  independent  of  foreign  lux- 
uries, as  they  subsequently  did  of  British  dominion. 

The  committee  of  Annapolis  and  Anne  Arundel, 
consisted  on  such  occasions  of  Messrs.  Thomas  Sprigg, 
John  Weems,  B.  T.  B.  Worthington  and  William  Paca. 

The  resolute  course  pursued  by  the  association, 
brought  the  merchants  of  the  British  markets  to  'a  de- 
termination not  to  ship  in  future,  any  goods  to  Mary- 
landj  but  such  as  would  be  agreeable  to  the  association.' 

In  October  of  1769,  Mr.  William  Eddis,  (the  sur- 
veyor of  the  customs  at  Annapolis,)  writing  home  to 
his  friends,  describes  Annapolis  and  its  public  build- 
ings, thus : 

'Annapolis  is  nearly  encompassed  by  the  river  Se- 
vern, and  with  every  advantage  of  situation,  is  built 
on  a  very  irregular  plan.  The  adjacent  country  pre- 
sents a  variety  of  beautiful  prospects,  agreeably  diver- 
sified with  well-settled  plantations,  lofty  woods,  and 
navigable  waters. 

'In  our  little  metropoHs,  the  public  buildings  do  not 
impress  the  mind  with  any  idea  of  magnificence,  hav- 
ing been  chiefly  erected  during  the   infancy   of  the 
colony,  when  convenience  was  the  directing  principle, , 
without  attention  to  the  embellishment  of  art. 

'The  court-house,  situated  on  an  eminence  at  the 
back  of  the  town,  commands  a  variety  of  views  highly 
interesting ;  the  entrance  of  the  Severn,  the  majestic 
Chesapeake,  and  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  being 
all  united  in  one  resplendent  assemblage,  vessels  of 
various  sizes  and  figures  are  continually  floating  before 
the  eye ;  which,  while  they  add  to  the  beauty  of  the 
scene,  excite  ideas  of  the  most  pleasing  nature. 

'In  the  court-house,  the  representatives  of  the  people 


144  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

assemble,  for  the  dispatch  of  provincial  business.  The 
courts  of  justice  are  also  held  here,  and  here  likewise 
the  public  offices  are  established. 

'This  building  has  nothing  in  its  appearance  expres- 
sive of  the  great  purposes  to  which  it  is  appropriated, 
and  by  a  strange  neglect,  is  suffered  to  fall  continually 
into  decay,  being,  both  without  and  within,  an  emblem 
of  public  poverty,  and  at  the  same  time  a  severe  reflec- 
tion on  the  government  of  this  country,  which,  it  seems, 
is  considerably  richer  than  the  generality  of  the  Ameri- 
can provinces. 

'The  council-chamber  is  a  detached  building,  adja- 
cent to  the  former,  on  a  very  humble  scale.  It  contains 
one  tolerable  room,  for  the  reception  of  the  governor 
and  council,  who  meet  here  during  the  sitting  of  the 
assembly,  and  whose  concurrence  is  necessary  in  pass- 
ing all  laws. 

'The  governor's  house  is  most  beautifully  situated, 
and  when  the  necessary  alterations  are  completed,  it 
will  be  a  regular,  convenient,  and  elegant  building. 
The  garden  is  not  extensive,  but  it  is  disposed  to  the 
utmost  advantage ;  the  centre  walk  is  terminated  by  a 
small  green  mount,  close  to  which  the  Severn  ap- 
proaches ;  this  elevation  commands  an  extensive  view 
of  the  bay,  and  the  adjacent  country.  The  same  ob- 
jects appear  to  equal  advantage  from  the  saloon,  and 
many  apartments  in  the  house,  and  perhaps  I  may  be 
justified  in  asserting,  that  there  are  but  few  mansions 
in  the  most  rich  and  cultivated  parts  of  England,  which 
are  adorned  with  such  splendid  and  romantic  scenery. 

'The  buildings  in  Annapolis  were  formerly  of  small 
dimensions,  and  of  an  inelegant  construction  ;  but  there 
are  now  several  modern  edifices  which  make  a  good 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  145 

appearance.  There  are  few  habitations  without  gar- 
<lens,  some  of  which  are  planted  in  a  decent  style,  and 
are  well  stocked. 

'At  present  the  city  has  more  the  appearance  of  an 
agreeable  village,  than  the  metropolis  of  an  opulent 
province,  as  it  contains  within  its  limits  a  number  of 
small  fields,  which  are  intended  for  future  erections. 
But  in  a  few  years,  it  will  probably  be  one  of  the  best 
built  cities  in  America,  as  a  spirit  of  improvement  is 
predominant,  and  the  situation  is  allowed  to  be  equally 
healthy  and  pleasant  with  any  on  this  side  the  At- 
lantic. Many  of  the  principal  families  have  chosen 
this  place  for  their  residence,  and  there  are  few  towns 
of  the  same  size,  in  any  part  of  the  British  dominions, 
than  can  boast  of  a  more  polished  society.' 

Mr.  Eddis  describes  the  villas,  at  this  period,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Annapolis,  as  being  pleasant  and  beautiful, 
particularly  that  which  belonged  to  governor  Sharpe, 
about  seven  miles  from  this  place,  on  the  north  side  of 
Severn.  It  is  a  most  delightful  situation.  The  man- 
sion-house is  large  and  elegant.  Whitehall,  the  name 
of  this  estate,  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  descend- 
ants of  the  gentleman  to  whom  governor  Sharpe  be- 
queathed it.  Grovernor  Sharpe  resided  in  this  city,  and 
governed  the  province  of  Maryland  for  many  years, 
with  honour  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  people ; 
and  established  a  reputation  which  reflected  the  highest 
honour  on  his  public  capacity  and  private  virtues. 

In  this  year,  (1769,)  the  general  assembly  appro- 
priated the  sum  of  je7,500  sterling,  to  be  applied  to 
the  building  of  the  present  state-house.  The  buUding 
of  which  was  superintended  by  Daniel  Dulany,  Thomas 
Johnson,  John  Hall,  William  Paca,  Charles  Carroll 
13 


146  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

Barrister,  Lancelot  Jacques,  and  Charles  Wallace,  the 
majority  of  whom  were  empowered  to  contract  with 
workmen,  and  to  purchase  materials ;  and  were  also 
authorized  to  draw  on  the  treasurers  of  the  western 
and  eastern  shores,  for  whatever  further  sums  might  be 
required  to  complete  the  building.  The  old  state- 
house  was  accordingly  demolished,  and  the  present 
one  erected  on  its  site. 

The  foundation  stone  of  this  edifice  was  laid  on  the 
28th  day  of  March,  1772,  by  governor  Eden.  On  his 
striking  the  stone  with  a  mallet,  which  was  customary 
on  such  occasions,  tradition  infbrms  us,  there  was  a 
severe  clap  of  thunder,  although  a  cloud  was  not  to  be 
seen,  the  day  being  clear  and  beautifully  serene.  In 
1773,  this  building  was  covered  in  with  a  copper  roof, 
and  in  1775,  this  roof  was  blown  off,  during  the 
equinoctial  gale,  the  market-house  was  blown  down, 
and  the  water  is  said  to  have  risen  three  feet  perpen- 
dicular above  the  common  tide,  during  the  storm. 

The  dome  was  not  added  to  the  main  building  until 
after  the  revolution. 

The  dimensions  of  the  building  are  here  given, 
to  wit:  Feet. 

From  the  platform  to  the  cornice,  about  36 

"     "    cornice  to  top  of  arc,  or  roof,  23 

"     "    top  of  the  roof  to  the  cornice 

of  the  facade  of  the  dome,  30 

"     "    cornice  to  the  band  above  the 

elliptical  windows,      .         »  24 

This  terminates  the  view  internally,  .^-113 

From  the  band  to  the  balcony,      .         *  22 

Height  of  the  turret,         ...  17 

From  the  cornice  of  the  turret  to  the  floor 

of  the  campanelle,  or  lantern,     .       *  6 


ANNALS   OF    ANNAPOLIS.  147 

Feet. 
Height  of  the  campanelle,  or  lantern,        .     14 
Height  of  the  pedestal  and  acorn,  .         10 

Height  of  the  spire,  .         .         .         .     18—87 


Entire  height,        200 
Diameter  of  the  dome,  at  its  base,       .         .     40 
do.        balcony,  ....  30 

do.      .  turret, 17 

do.        campanelle,  or  lantern,      .         .         10 
do.        acorn,  .         .         .         .         .       3  8iiu,. 

Length  of  the  front  of  the  building,  .       120 

Depth,  (exclusive  of  the  octagon,)       .         .     82 

The  architect  of  this  building  was  a  Mr.  Joseph 
Clarke.  Mr.  Thomas  Dance,  who  executed  the  stucco 
and  fresco  work  on  the  interior  of  the  dome,  fell  from 
the  scaffold  just  as  he  had  finished  the  centre  piece, 
and  was  killed. 
„^  Mr.  Eddis,  in  a  letter  dated  Annapolis,  Feb- 

ruary 20th,  1770,  says,  'on  Saturday  last,  our 
little  city  appeared  in  all  its  splendour.  It  was  the 
anniversary  of  the  proprietary's  birth.  The  governor 
gave  a  grand  entertainment  on  the  occasion  to  a  nu- 
merous party ;  the  company  brought  with  them  every 
disposition  to  render  each  other  happy,  and  the  festi- 
vity concluded  with  cards  and  dancing,  which  engaged 
the  attention  of  their  respective  votaries  until  an  early 
hour. 

*I  am  persuaded  there  is  not  a  town  in  England  of 
the  same  size  of  Annapolis,  which  can  boast  a  greater 
number  of  fashionable  and  handsome  women,  and 
were  I  not  satisfied  to  the  contrary,  I  should  suppose 
that  the  majority  of  our  belles  possessed  every  advan- 


148  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

tage  of  a  long  and  familiar  intercourse  with  the  man- 
ners and  habits  of  your  great  metropolis.' 

Annapolis  has  always  been  celebrated  for  the  ele- 
gance and  beauty  of  her  female  population  ;  and  the 
compliment  paid  to  them  by  Mr.  Eddis  in  1770,  is 
equally  true  at  the  present  time. 

„  In  this  year,  and  for  many  years  later,  there 
existed  in  this  city,  a  society  called  *  The  Saint 
Tamina  Society f'  who  set  apart  the  first  day  of  May  in 
memory  of  ^ Saint  Tamina,^  whose  history,  like  those 
of  other  venerable  saints,  is  lost  in  fable  and  uncer- 
tainty. It  was  usual  on  the  morning  of  this  day,  for 
the  members  of  the  society  to  erect  in  some  public 
situation  in  the  city,  a  ^May-pole^^  and  to  decorate 
il  in  a  most  tasteful  manner,  with  wild  flowers  gath- 
ered from  the  adjacent  woods,  and  forming  them- 
selves in  a  ring  around  it,  hand  in  hand,  perform 
the  Indian  war  dance,  with  many  other  customs  which 
they  had  seen  exhibited  by  the  children  of  the  forest. 
It  was  also  usual  on  this  day  for  such  of  the  citizens, 
who  chose  to  enter  into  the  amusement,  to  wear  a 
piece  of  bucks-tail  in  their  hats,  or  in  some  conspicu- 
ous part  of  their  dress.  General  invitations  were 
given,  and  a  large  company  usually  assembled  during 
the  course  of  the  evening,  and  when  engaged  in  the 
midst  of  a  dance,  the  company  were  interrupted  by 
the  sudden  intrusion  of  a  number  of  the  members  of 
*Saint  Tamina's  Society,'  habited  like  Indians,  who 
rushing  violently  into  the  room,  singing  the  war  songs, 
and  giving  the  whoop,  commenced  dancing  in  the 
style  of  that  people.  After  which  ceremony,  they 
made  a  collection,  and  retired  well  satisfied  with  their 
reception  and  entertainment.     This  custom  of  cele- 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS,  149 

brating  the  day  was  continued  down,  within  the  recol- 
lection of  many  of  the  present  inhabitants  of  this  city. 

On  Monday,  the  9th  of  September,  1771,  the  editor 
of  the  Maryland  Gazette  says,  'the  new  theatre  in 
West  street  was  opened  with  the  Roman  Father  and 
Mayor  of  Garret,  to  a  numerous  and  brilliant  audience, 
who  expressed  the  greatest  satisfaction,  not  only  at  the 
performance,  but  with  the  house,  which  is  thought  to 
be  as  elegant  and  commodious  for  its  size,  as  any 
theatre  in  America.^ 

The  theatre  above  mentioned,  was  built  of  brick,  of 
handsome  structure,  the  boxes  were  commodious  and 
neatly  decorated,  the  pit  and  gallery  were  calculated  to 
hold  a  number  of  persons  without  incommoding  each 
other ;  the  stage  was  well  adapted  for  dramatic  and 
pantomimical  exhibitions,  and  several  of  the  scenes 
reflected  great  credit  on  the  ability  of  the  painter.  In 
1782,  the  general  assembly  appointed  Samuel  Chase 
and  Allen  Quynn,  trustees  of  this  property,  for  the  use 
of  John  Henry  and  others,  of  the  American  company 
of  comedians.  This  theatre  was  built  upon  ground 
leased  from  St.  Anne's  Parish,  and  when  the  lease 
expired,  about  1814,  the  vestry  of  the  parish  took  pos- 
session of  it,  and  sold  it.  It  was  soon  after  pulled 
down.  A  carriage  manufactory  is  now  erected  on 
its  site. 

Mr.  Dunlap,  in  his  history  of  the  American  theatre, 
admits  that  Annapolis  has  the  honour  *of  having  erect- 
ed the  first  theatre,  the  first  temple  to  the  dramatic 
muse.'  Of  this  fact  there  can  rest  no  doubt,  for  as 
early  as  the  year  1752,  a  theatre  was  built  here,  and  in 
which  were  performed  some  of  Shakspeare's  best  plays, 

13* 


150  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS, 

,  ^« ,  In  1774,  John  Ridout,  Samuel  Chase,  Wil- 
1774 

Ham   Paca,  Upton  Scott  and   Thomas  Hyde, 

Esquires,  were  appointed  trustees  for  building  in  An- 
napolis ^an  elegant  church,^  which  is  to  be  adorned  with 
a  steeple.  The  old  church  to  be  pulled  down,  and  the 
new  one  erected  at  the  same  place. 

In  return  for  jGlSOO,  contributed  by  the  public  au- 
thorities, there  was  provided  a  pew  for  the  'governor, 
a  large  one  for  the  council,  one  for  the  speaker,  pews 
for  the  members  of  the  legislature,  judges  and  strangers, 
all  of  which  are  to  be  in  the  most  airy,  agreeable  and 
commodious,  part  of  the  church,  and  to  be  properly 
ornamented.' 

The  old  church  was  accordingly  razed  to  the  ground, 
and  the  present  Episcopal  church  erected  on  the 
site ;  of  which  more  will  be  said  in  another  place. 
On  the  25th  of  May,  of  this  year,  (1774,)  in  conse- 
quence of  the  'act  of  parliament  for  blocking  up  the 
harbour  of  Boston,'  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  An- 
napolis was  called,  when  the  following  proceedings 
were  had : 

'At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  An- 
napolis, on  Wednesday,  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  May, 
1774,  after  notice  given  of  the  time,  place,  and  occa- 
sion of  this  meeting, — 

'Resolvedj  That  it  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  this 
meeting,  that  the  town  of  Boston  is  now  suffering  in 
the  common  cause  of  America,  and  that  it  is  incum- 
bent on  every  colony  in  America,  to  unite  in  effectual 
measures  to  obtain  a  repeal  of  the  late  act  of  parlia- 
ment, for  blocking  up  the  harbour  of  Boston. 

'That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  that  if  the 
colonies  come  into  a  joint  resolution  to  stop  all  impor- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  151 

tation  from,  and  exportation  to  Great  Britain,  till  the 
^aid  act  be  repealed,  the  same  will  preserve  North 
America,  and  her  liberties. 

^Resolved,  Therefore,  that  the  inhabitants  of  this 
city  will  join  in  an  association  with  the  several  coun- 
ties of  this  province,  and  the  principal  provinces  of 
America,  to  put  an  immediate  stop  to  all  exports  to 
Great  Britain,  and  that  after  a  short  day,  hereafter 
to  be  agreed  on,  that  there  shall  be  no  imports  from 
Great  Britain,  till  the  said  act  be  repealed,  and  that 
such  association  be  on  oath. 

'That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  that  the 
gentlemen  of  the  law  of  this  province  bring  no  suit 
for  the  recovery  of  any  debt  due  from  any  inhabitant 
of  this  province,  to  any  inhabitant  of  Great  Britain, 
until  the  said  act  be  repealed. 

'That  the  inhabitants  of  this  city  will,  and  it  is 
the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  that  this  province  ought 
immediately  to  break  off  all  trade  and  dealings  with 
that  colony  or  province,  which  shall  refuse  or  decline 
to  come  into  similar  resolutions  with  a  majority  of 
the  colonies. 

'That  Messieurs  John  Hall,  Charles  Carroll,  Thomas 
Johnson,  jun.,  William  Paca,  Matthias  Hammond, 
and  Samuel  Chase,  be  a  committee  for  this  city  to  join 
with  tho^e  who  shall  be  appointed  for  Baltimore  Town, 
and  other  parts  of  this  province,  to  constitute  one 
general  committee ;  and  that  the  gentlemen  appointed 
for  this  city  inmmediately  correspond  with  Baltimore 
Town,  and  other  parts  of  this  province,  to  effect  such 
association  as  will  secure  American  liberty.' 

Mr.  Eddis,  writing  from  Annapolis  to  England,  on 
the  28th  of  May,  immediately  after  the  above  proceed- 


152  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

ings  were  had,  begins  his  letter  by  saying,  'all  Ame- 
rica is  in  a  flame  !  I  hear  strange  Janguage  every  day. 
The  colonists  are  ripe  for  any  measures  that  will  tend 
to  the  preservation  of  what  they  call  their  natural 
liberty.  I  enclose  you  the  resolves  of  our  citizens; 
they  have  caught  the  general  contagion. 

'Expresses  are  flying  from  province  to  province.  It 
is  the  universal  opinion  here,  that  the  mother  country 
cannot  support  a  contention  with  these  settlements,  if 
they  abide  strictly  to  the  letter  and  spirit  of  their 
associations.' 

After  the  publication  of  the  resolves  entered  into  on 
Wednesday,  the  25th  of  May,  had  appeared,  several 
gentlemen  of  influence  expressed  their  belief,  that  if 
the  sentiments  of  the  people  had  been  properly  taken, 
it  would  not  appear  that  the  whole  of  the  proceedings 
received  their  unanimous  support.  And  to  obviate 
this  objection,  hand-bills  were  distributed,  and  a  general 
attendance  was  earnestly  requested,  in  consequence  of 
which,  on  the  evening  of  the  27th,  a  second  meeting 
of  the  citizens  was  held,  when  the  proceedings  of  the 
previous  meeting  of  the  25lh  of  May  were  fully  sus- 
tained. 

But  on  the  ensuing  Monday,  a  protest  made  its 
appearance,  signed  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
persons,  amongst  whom  are  to  be  found  the"  names  of 
many  of  the  first  importance  at  that  day  in  this  city, 
and  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  is  as  follows  : 
'To  THE  Printers  :  ^May  30th,  1774. 

'A  publication  of  the  enclosed  protest,  supported 
by  the  names  of  a  considerable  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  city  of  Annapolis,  will,  it  is  presumed, 
furnish  the  most   authentic   grounds  for  determining 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  153 

the  sense  of  the  majority,  on  a  question  of  the  last 
importance. 

'We  whose  names  are  subscribed,  inhabitants  of 
the  city  of  Annapolis,  conceive  it  our  clear  right,  and 
most  incumbent  duty,  to  express  our  cordial  and  expli- 
cit disapprobation  of  a  resolution  which  was  carried  by 
forty-seven  against  thirty-one,  at  the  meeting  held  on 
the  27th  instant. 

*The  resolution  against  which  we  protest,  in  the 
face  of  the  world,  is  the  following : 

'That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  that  the 
gentlemen  of  the  law  of  this  province,  bring  no  suit 
for  the  recovery  of  any  debt  due  from  any  inhabitant 
of  this  province,  to  any  inhabitant  of  Great  Britain, 
until  the  said  act  be  repealed.'     Dissentient. 

First — 'Because  we  are  impressed  with  a  fiill  con- 
viction, that  this  resolution  is  founded  in  treachery  and 
rashness,  inasmuch  as  it  is  big  with  bankruptcy  and 
ruin,  to  those  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  who,  rely- 
ing with  unlimited  security  on  our  good  faith  and  in- 
tegrity, have  made  us  masters  of  their  fortunes,  con- 
demning them  unheard,  for  not  having  interposed  their 
influence  with  parliament  in  favour  of  the  town  of 
Boston,  without  duly  weighing  the  force,  with  which 
that  influence  would  probably  have  operated ;  or 
whether,  in  their  conduct,  they  were  actuated  by 
wiRom  and    policy,   or  by   corruption   and  avarice. 

Secondly — 'Because  whilst  the  inhabitants  of  Great 
Britain  are  partially  despoiled  of  every  legal  remedy 
to  recover  what  is  justly  due  to  them,  no  provision 
is  made  to  prevent  us  from  being  harrassed  by  the 
prosecution  of  internal  suits,  but  our  fortunes  and  per- 
sons are  left  at  the  mercy  of  domestic  creditors,  with- 


154  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

out  a  possibility  of  extricating  ourselves,  unless  by  a 
general  convulsion,  an  event  in  the  contemplation  of 
sober  reason,  replete  with  horror. 

Thirdly — 'Because  our  credit  as  a  commercial  peo- 
ple, will  expire  under  the  wound  ;  for  what  confidence 
can  possibly  be  reposed  in  those,  who  shall  have  ex- 
hibited the  most  avowed,  and  most  striking  proof  that 
they  are  not  bound  by  obligations  as  sacred  as  human 
invention  can  suggest, 

'Lloyd  Dulany,  William  Cooke,  James  Tilghman, 
Anthony  Stewart,  William  Steuart,  Charles  Steuart, 
David  Steuart,  Jonathan  Pinkney,  William  Tuck, 
Thomas  Sparrow,  John  Green,  James  Brice,  George 
Gordon,  John  Chalmers,  John  Anderson,  John  Uns- 
worth,  James  Taylor,  William  Cayton,  George  Ran- 
ken,  Robert  Moor,  Jonathan  Parker,  Brite  Seleven, 
John  Varndel,  John  Annis,  Robert  Ridge,  Robert 
Nixon,  Thomas  Kirby,  Williams  Edwards,  Robert 
Lambert,  William  Eddis,  John  Clapham,  Elie  Val- 
lette,  Robert  Buchanan,  William  Noke,  James  Brooks, 
Richard  Murrow,  John  Brown,  John  Hepburn,  Colin 
Campbell,  Nathaniel  Ross,  William  Niven,  James 
Kingsbury,  James  Barnes,  John  Sands,  James  Wil- 
liams, Joseph  Williams,  John  Howard,  William  Mun- 
roe,  John  D.  Jaquet,  John  Norris,  John  Steele,  N. 
Maccubbin,  Shoem.  Thomas  Hammond,  Thomas  Pi- 
pier,  Thomas  Neal,  William  Tqnry,  James  McKen^e, 
Nicholas  Minsky,  Martin  Water,  John  Warren,  Wil- 
liam Chambers,  James  Clarke,  Denton  Jacques,  Joseph 
Dowson,  Thomas  Macken,  Richard  Burland,  Dan. 
Dulany,  of  Dan.,  R.  Molleson,  Robert  '  Couden, 
William  Aikman,  George  French,  John  Parker,  Archi- 
bald Smith,  Thomas  Bonner, .Matthias  Mae,  Alexander 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  155 

McDonald,  David  Crinnig,  John  Timmis,  David  Atchi- 
son, James  Maynard,  William  Harrison,  Robert  Kirk- 
land,  William  Ashton,  Robert  Morrison,  Charles  Bry- 
an, John  Haragan,  Hugh  Hendley,  Richard  Thompson, 
Reverdy  Ghiselin,  Charles  Marckel,  John  Randall, 
William  Stiff,  James  Mitchel,  Charles  Roberts,  Samuel 
Skingle,  Thomas  Stiff,  Henry  Jackson,  William  De- 
venith,  James  Hackman,  Charles  Barber,  John  Evitts, 
James  Maw,  Jordan  Steiger,  Joseph  Richards,  Ed- 
ward Owens,  Thomas  Pryse,  J.  Wilkinson,  Robert 
Key,  Lewis  Jones,  William  Willatt,  John  King,  Wil- 
liam Prew,  Thomas  Towson,  William  Howard,  John 
Donaldson,  Dan.  Dulany,  of  Walter,  William  Wor- 
thington,  Thomas  B.  Hodgkin,  William  Wilkins,  Tho- 
mas French,  Joseph  Selby,  William  Gordon,  Thomas 
Hyde,  John  Maconochie,  Philip  Thomas  Lee,  John 
Ball,  Samuel  Owens,  Samuel  Ball,  Thpmas  Braith- 
waite,  James  Murray,  Richard  Mackubin,  Michael 
Wallace,  William  Hyde,  Nathan  Hammond,  Peter 
Psalter,  Joseph  Browing,  Thomas  Hincks,  Lewis  Neth, 
Edward  Dogan,  J.  H.  Anderson,  Richard  Burt,  Henry 
Horsley,  Cornelius  Fenton,  Richard  Addams,  George 
Ranken,  senior,  Edward  Wilmot,  Robert  Lang,  George 
Nicholson,  Benjamin  Spriggs,  John  Horton,  Charles 
Wright,  Constantine  Bull,  Amos  Edmons,  Henry  Si- 
bell,  Joshua  Cross,  John  Woolford,  Sam.  H.  Howard, 
Oliver  Weeden,  Alexander  Finlater,  Con.  McCarty, 
Jonathan  Simpson.' 

Brig  Peggy  Stewart. — On  Saturday  the  15th  of 
October,  1774,  the  brig  Peggy  Stewart  arrived  at 
Annapolis  from  London,  with  servants  and  a  quantity 
of  goods,  among  which  were  seventeen  packages, 
containing  two  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty 


156  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

pounds  of  tea,  consigned  to  Thomas  Charles  Williams 
and  company,  merchants,  in  Annapolis. 

This  intended  importation  was  immediately  disco- 
vered, and  the  citizens  were  summoned  to  a  general 
meeting.  On  examination,  it  appeared,  that  Messrs. 
Williams  had,  on  this  occasion,  imported  a  larger 
quantity  of  that  detestable  plant,  as  it  was  then  termed, 
than  by  any  former  opportunity;  and  that  Mr.  An- 
thony Stewart,  the  proprietor  of  the  vessel,  had  paid 
the  duties  thereon  ;  though  he  was  not  in  any  manner 
concerned  in  the  shipment  of  the  tea.  This  being 
deemed  a  submission  to  the  contested  claim  of  the 
British  parliament,  very  severe  censures  were  passed 
on  the  parties  concerned,  and  a  general  spirit  of  resent- 
ment appeared  to  have  predominated.  After  several 
modes  of  proceeding  had  been  proposed  and  discussed, 
it  was  deternained  to  appoint  a  committee  to  attend  the 
vessel,  and  prevent  the  landing  of  the  tea,  until  the 
sense  of  the  country  could  be  fully  ascertained.  The 
ensuing  Wednesday  was  appointed  for  that  purpose, 
and  proper  measures  were  pursued  to  give  the  neces- 
sary information. 

Mr.  Stewart,  apprehensive  of  the  consequences 
likely  to  ensue,  solicited  a  previous  meeting  of  the 
citizens  on  the  following  Monday,  trusting  that,  by 
timely  submission,  measures  might  be  taken  to  prevent 
the  assembling  of  so  numerous  a  body  as  were  ex- 
pected to  come  in  from  the  county,  from  whom  he  had 
much  to  fear,  with  respect  to  his  person  and  property. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  proposed  by  some,  that 
Messrs.  Stewart  and  Williams,  who  were  desirous 
to  make  atonement  for  the  offence  they  had  committed, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  157 

might  be  permitted  to  land  and  bum  the  tea,  in  any 
place  that  should  be  appointed  for  that  puq)ose. 

This  motion  was,  however,  strongly  opposed  by 
others,  who  insisted  on  matters  remaining  as  they 
were,  until  the  time  appointed  for  the  county  meet- 
ing, in  order  that  a  more  public  acknowledgment 
and  satisfaction  might  be  made. 

Mr.  Stewart,  with  a  view  to  moderate  the  resent- 
ment which  his  conduct  had  occasioned,  distributed 
the  following  hand-bill  and  affidavit,  which  were  also 
publicly  read,  but  without  any  apparent  effect  in  his 
favour. 

'To  the  gentlemen  of  the  committee,  the  citizens 
of  Annapolis,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Anne  Arundel 
county. 

'Gentlemen :  I  find  by  a  hand-bill,  that  you  are 
requested  to  meet  to  take  into  consideration  what  is 
proper  to  be  done  with  the  tea,  the  property  of  Tho- 
mas C.  Williams  and  Co.,  now  on  board  the  brig 
Peggy  Stewart,  and  finding  my  conduct  censured  for 
having  paid  the  duty  on  that  tea  to  the  collector,  I 
take  the  liberty  to  present  a  plain  narrative  of  the 
part  I  have  acted  therein,  and  the  motives  by  which 
I  was  actuated.  Deeply  interested  as  I  am  in  the 
peace  and  harmony  of  this  country,  no  man  would 
be  further  than  myself  from  taking  any  steps  to  dis- 
turb them.  I  am  not  in  the  least  connected  with 
any  thing  that  relates  merely  to  the  importation,  indeed 
so  cautious  have  I  been  of  infringing  in  the  least, 
any  of  the  resolutions  of  America,  that  I  did  not 
order  a  single  farthing's  worth  of  goods  by  that  ves- 
sel, though  I  could  have  done  it  on  such  easy  terms 
as  to  freight  and  shipping  charges,  much  less  should 
14 


158  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

I  have  thought  of  ordering  any  tea,  after  the  distur- 
bance which  the  importation  of  that  article  had  occa- 
sioned on  the  continent.  When  the  brig  arrived, 
the  captain  informed  me  she  was  very  leaky,  and 
that  the  sooner  she  was  unloaded  the  better. 

'I  told  him  to  enter  his  vessel,  but  not  the  tea, 
which  I  found,  on  inquiry  of  the  collector,  could  not 
be  done.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  brig  leaky, 
and  fifty-three  souls  on  board,  where  they  had  been 
near  three  months,  I  thought  myself  bound,  both  in 
humanity  and  prudence,  to  enter  the  vessel,  and  leave 
the  destination  of  the  tea  to  the  committee. 

'The  impropriety  of  securing  the  duty  did  not  then 
occur  to  me,  neither  did  I  know  the  tea  would  be 
suffered  to  be  lodged  as  a  security  for  the  payment. 
I  had  nothing  in  view  but  to  save  the  vessel  from 
a  seizure,  and  of  having  an  opportunity  of  releas- 
ing the  passengers  from  a  long  and  disagreeable  con- 
finement. 

'The  duty  on  tea  has  been  paid  hitherto,  both 
in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  by  every  importer  of  goods, 
in  this  case  I  am  not  the  importer.  If  I  have  erred 
in  my  part  of  the  transaction,  I  declare,  upon  my 
honour,  it  is  without  the  least  intention  ;  I  have  in-i 
fringed  no  rules  prescribed  by  the  general  resolutions 
of  this  province.  It  happened,  unluckily,  that  the 
tea  was  put  on  board  of  captain  Jackson's  brig,  in  the 
manner  as  will  be  seen  by  the  annexed  affidavit,  and  it 
can  be  incontestably  proved,  the  captain  refused  taking 
tea  on  board. 

'Mr.  Williams  was  in  London  when  the  tea  was 
shipped,  and  must  have  known  that  many  merchants 
had  refused  to  ship  that  article.     I  have  only  to  add, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  159 

that  I  am  sincerely  sorry  for  my  conduct  on  this  occa- 
sion, which  has  been  the  cause  of  so  much  uneasiness, 
and  freely  submit  it  to  your  candid  consideration. 
'I  am,  gentlemen, 

'Your  most  humble  servant, 

'Anthony  Stewart. 
'Annapolis,   Oct.   17,  1774.' 

'Affidavit. — Captain  Richard  Jackson,  master  of 
the  brig  Peggy  Stewart,  deposeth  and  saith, 

'That  immediately  after  the  landing  of  his  cargo  in 
London,  he  applied  for,  and  obtained  a  general  permit 
from  the  custom-house,  to  receive  India  and  other  goods 
on  board  for  exportation  ;  and  (as  is  always  customary 
in  such  cases,)  gave  security,  and  took  an  oath  not  to 
re-land  the  same  in  any  part  of  Great  Britain.  But 
having  great  reason  to  believe,  any  importation  of  tea 
would  be  unfavourably  received  in  America,  he  w^as 
fully  determined,  and  had  resolved  not  to  receive  any 
on  board  ;  and  publickly  on  the  Exchange  of  London, 
in  the  month  of  July,  refused  to  receive  tea,  which 
was  offered  to  be  shipped  by  Kelley,  Lott  and  Co. 
This  deponent  further  saith,  that  by  the  method  of 
shipping  goods  from  London,  tea  may  be  put  on  board 
any  ship,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  master.  All 
goods  are  examined  at  the  custom-house,  and  sent  by 
the  shipper,  in  lighters,  on  board  the  ship,  with  only  a 
common  bill  expressing  the  parcels,  and  not  the  quan- 
tities contained,  or  the  qualities  of  them ;  these  are 
received  by  the  mate  of  the  ship,  who  gives  a  receipt 
on  the  lighter-bill,  which  is  again  returned  to  the  ship- 
per, and  the  master  signs  his  bills  of  lading  at  London^ 
by  the  lighter-bill,  specifying  the  parcels,  without 
knowing  the  contents,  and  clears  out  the  ship  at  the 


160  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

custom-house  with  merchandize,  without  knowing  or 
mentioning  of  what  nature. 

'The  cockets  containing  the  particulars  of  each 
parcel,  are  sent  by  the  officers  of  the  customs  at  Lon- 
don, to  the  custom-house  at  Gravesend,  and  there 
lodged  to  be  called  for  by  the  captain  or  master  of 
the  ship  on  his  passage  to  sea.  In  this  manner  the 
goods  shipped  in  the  Peggy  Stewart,  were  received  on 
board.  And  this  deponent  further  saith,  that  he  saw 
Thomas  Charles  Williams,  to  whom  the  tea  is  con- 
signed, and  Amos  Hayton,  who  shipped  the  same, 
frequently  in  London,  neither  of  whom  ever  mentioned 
to  him  their  intention  of  shipping  any ;  that  he  did 
not  know  of  any  tea  being  on  board,  until  after  he 
had  received  his  cockets  at  Gravesend,  and  that  he 
would  not  have  received  the  same  had  he  known 
thereof.  Rich.  Jackson.' 

^ Sworn  before  me  this  11  th  Oct.,  1774, 

Phil.  Thos.  Lee.' 

On  Wednesday,  the  appearance,  agreeably  to  expec- 
tation, was  numerous,  and  the  delegated  committee 
were  attended  by  Messrs.  A.  Stewart  and  Williams, 
who  acknowledged  the  impropriety  of  their  proceed- 
ing, and  signed  the  paper,  of  which  the  following  is 
a  copy  : 

*We  James  Williams,  Joseph  Williams,  and  An- 
thony Stewart,  do  severally  acknowledge,  that  we 
have  committed  a  most  daring  insult,  and  act  of  the 
most  pernicious  tendency  to  the  liberties  of  America  ; 
we  the  said  Williams's,  in  importing  the  tea,  and  said 
Stewart,  in  paying  the  duty  thereon,  and  thereby  de- 
servedly incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  people  now 


1^*  » 

ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  161 

convened,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  preservation 
of  the  constitutional  rights  and  liberties  of  North 
America,  do  ask  pardon  for  the  same  ;  and  we  solemnly 
declare,  for  the  future,  that  we  never  will  infringe  any 
resolution  formed  by  the  people,  for  the  salvation  of 
their  rights,  nor  will  we  do  any  act  that  may  be  inju- 
rious to  the  liberties  of  the  people,  and  to  shew  our 
desire  of  living  in  amity  with  the  friends  of  America, 
we  request  this  meeting,  or  as  many  as  may  choose  to 
aitend,  to  be  present  at  any  place  where  the  people 
shall  appoint,  and  we  will  there  commit  to  the  flames, 
or  otherwise  destroy,  as  the  people  may  choose,  the 
detestable  article,  which  has  been  the  cause  of  this 
our   misconduct. 

Anthony  Stewart, 
Joseph  Williams, 
James  Williams.' 

Mr.  Stewart,  on  account  of  what  was  deemed  a 
cheerful  and  ready  compliance  with  an  unconstitu- 
tional act  of  the  British  legislature,  was  particularly 
obnoxious,  and  though  he  publicly  read  his  recanta- 
tion, expressed  in  the  most  submissive  terms,  there 
were  some  who  were  warmly  disposed  to  present  him 
with  a  suit  of  tar  and  feathers.  Others  were  in  favour 
of  the  destruction  of  the  brig,  which  had  imported  the 
hateful  commodity,  whilst  many  others  declared,  that 
the  paper  signed  by  the  offenders,  with  their  unex- 
torted  consent  to  burn  the  tea,  was  a  sufficient  punish- 
ment and  satisfaction.  But  to  determine  this  point 
with  certainty,  it  was  proposed  and  assented  to,  that 
a  division  should  take  place  on  the  following  question: 
Whether  the  vessel  should  or  should  not  be  destroyed  ? 

14* 


162  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

When  it  was  carried  in  the  negative  by  a  considerable 
majority ;  the  citizens  in  general,  appearing  averse  to 
violent  measures.  But  as  the  minority  were  chiefly 
persons  who  resided  at  a  distance  from  Annapolis, 
as  some  of  them  had  great  influence  in  their  neigh- 
bourhood, and  intimated  a  determined  resolution  to 
proceed  to  the  utmost  extremities,  the  instant  they 
could  collect  sufficient  numbers  to  support  them,  Mr. 
Stewart  was  induced  by  the  advice  of  Charles  Carroll, 
of  Carrollton,  Esquire,  and  from  an  anxious  desire 
to  preserve  the  public  tranquillity,  as  well  as  to  secure 
his  own  personal  safety,  to  propose  setting  fire  him- 
self to  the  vessel,  which  being  immediately  assented 
to,  he  instantly  repaired  on  board,  accompanied  by 
several  gentlemen  who  thought  it  necessary  to  attend 
him,  and  having  directed  her  to  be  run  aground,  near 
the  wind-mill  point,  he  made  a  sacrifice  of  his  valu- 
able property,  and  in  a  few  hours  the  brig,  with  her 
sails,  cordage,  and  every  appurtenance,  was  effec- 
tually burnt.* 

Mr.  McMahon  in  his  history  of  Maryland,  says,  in 
reference  to  the  affair  of  the  Peggy  Stewart — 'the  tea 
burning  at  Boston  has  acquired  renown,  as  s.n  act  of 
unexampled  daring  at  that  day  in  the  defence  of  Ame- 
rican liberties,  but  the  tea  burning  at  Mnnapolis,  which 
occurred  in  the  ensuing  fall,  far  surpasses  it  in  the 
apparent  deliberation  and  utter  carelessness  of  con- 
cealment, attending  the  bold  measures  which  led  to 
its  accomplishment.'  'This  instance,  in  its  manifes- 
tation of  public  feeling,  is  of  a  character  with  those 
which  occurred  in  other  parts  of  the  province,   and 

*  Eddis'  Letters. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  163 

they  evince  the  prevalence  throughout  it,  of  the  most 
determined  and  resistless  opposition  to  the  measures 
of  the  English  government.' 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Tea  Burning  in  Frederick  County — The  Citizens  of  Annapolis  or- 
ganized into  Military  Companies — Proceedings  of  the  Baltimore. 
Committee  of  Observation — The  ship  Totness,  with  salt  on  board, 
burnt  just  below  Annapolis — General  Charles  Lee — Massachusetts' 
Colony — Lord  Viscount  Barrington — Addresses — Gen.  Burgoyne — 
and  Gen.  Lee — Council  of  Safety — Chart  of  the  Harbour  of  Anna- 
polis— Appropriation  to  fortify  the  City — Fortifications — Slaughter 
Houses — Certain  Citizens  ordered  to  leave  the  City — Colonel  John 
Weems  before  the  Committee  of  Safety — Their  proceedings  there- 
on— Captiires  in  the  Chesapeake,  by  Capt.  Nicholson,  of  the  ship 
Defence — Offers  Battle  to  Otter  sloop  of  War — Balls  prohibited 
throughout  the  Province — A  Declaration  of  the  Delegates  of  Mary- 
land— Meeting  of  the  Associations  of  the  City  of  Annapolis — Their 
Proceedings — Mary  land  Troops  leave  Annapolis  for  Philadelphia — 
Letters  from  Philadelphia — Appeal  to  Maryland — Responded  to — 
Battle  on  Long  Island — Maryland  Troops — Major  Gist — Maryland 
Officers  made  prisoners  at  Long  Island — Thomas  Johnson,  jr.  Esq. 
Governor  of  Maryland— British  Ships  of  War  pass  up  the  Bay — 
Gov.  Johnson's  Proclamation — Mr.  Griffith — Baltimore  Troops — 
Battle  of  Brandywine — General  Smallwood — Colonel  Smith — Fort 
Mifflin— Surrender  of  General  Burgoyne — Count  Pulaski — Battle 
of  Monmouth — Letter  from  Commodore  Grason  to  Gov.  Johnson — 
Battle  at  the  Capes — Winter  of  1780 — Chesapeake  crossed  by 
carts  and  carriages — Baron  de  Kalb— Battle  of  Camden — The 
Baron  wounded — His  death — Congress  voted  a  Monument  to  his 
memory — To  be  erected  in  Annapolis — Inscription  for  the  Monu- 
ment— Extracts  of  Letters  relative  to  the  Battle  of  Camden — Mary- 
land Troops— Battle  of  the  Cowpens — Col.  How^ard — Maryland 
Troops — British  Sloops  of  War  off  Annapolis — General  Lafayette 
drives  them  down  the  Bay — Meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Annapolis — 
To  consider  the  Acts  of  Assembly — ^For  the  £mis3ion  of  Money 


164  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

Bills — Their  Proceedings — Militia  Assembled  at  Annapolis — Bri- 
tish Fleet  arrives  before  York — Troops  landed — Maryland  Regi- 
ment marches  from  Annapolis  to  join  the  Southern  Army — The 
Recruiting  Service — Gen.  Smallwood — The  Fourth  Maryland  Re- 
giment marches  from  Annapolis  tp  join  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette — 
The  French  Fleet,  kc.  at  Annapolis — From  the  Head  of  Elk — 
The  French  Army  arrives  from  the  North  about  the  same  time,  on 
their  way  to  Virginia — Battle  of  Eutaw — Extract  of  a  Letter  from 
Camp — Col.  Howard — Maryland  and  Virginia  Troops — Officers 
killed  and  wounded  at  Eutaw — Surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis — 
Rejoicing  at  Annapolis. 

Tea  burning  in  Frederick  county^  (taken  from  the 
Marj'land  Gazette,  Dec.  22,  1774. 

'The  committee  for  the  upper  part  of  Frederick 
county,  Maryland,  having  met  at  Elizabeth  Town,* 
on  the  26th  of  November,  which  was  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  the  delivery  of  John  Parks'  chest  of  tea, 
in  consequence  of  his  agreement  published  in  the 
Maryland  Journal  of  the  16th  ult. 

'After  a  demand  was  made  of  the  same,  Mr.  Parks 
oflfered  a  chest  of  tea,  found  on  a  certain  Andrew 
Gibson's  plantation,  Cumberland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, by  the  committee  for  that  place,  which  tea 
he  declared    was    the    same   he  promised  to  deliver. 

'The  committee  are  sorry  to  say  that  they  have 
great  reason  to  believe,  and  indeed  with  almost  a 
certainty,  that  the  said  chest  of  tea  was  in  Cumber- 
land county  at  the  time  Parks  said  upon  oath  it  was 
at  Christen  Bridge. 

'After  mature  deliberation,  the  committee  were  of 
opinion,  that  John  Parks  should  go  with  his  hat  off, 
^nd  lighted  torches  in  his  hands,  and  set  fire  to  the 
tea,  which  he  accordingly   did,   and   the  same   was 

•  Now  Hagerstown,  in  Washington  county,  Maryland. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  165 

consumed  to  ashes,  amongst  the  acclamations  of  a 
numerous  body  of  people.  The  committee  were  also 
of  opinion  that  no  further  intercourse  should  be  had 
with  the  said  Parks.  Every  friend  to  liberty  is  re- 
quested to   pay  due  attention  to  the  same. 

'Voted,  the  thanks  of  this  committee  to  that  of 
Cumberland  county,  for  their  prudent  and  spirited 
behaviour  upon  this  occasion. 

'Signed  by  order  of  the  committee. 

'John  Stull,  President. 

'N.  B.  The  populace  thought  the  measures  adopted 
by  the  committee  were  inadequate  to  the  transgression, 
and  satisfied  themselves  by  breaking  his  door  and 
windows.' 

'Annapolis,  December  22,  1774. 

'In  compliance  with  the  recommendation  of  the 
deputies  of  the  several  counties  of  this  province,  at 
their  late  convention,  to  such  of  the  gentlemen,  free- 
holders, and  other  freemen  of  this  province,  as  are 
from  sixteen  to  fifty  years  of  age,  to  form  themselves 
into  companies,  and  to  chuse  their  officers  ;  on  Satur- 
day last  a  number  of  the  citizens  met,  and  chose  their 
officers  agreeably  to  the  recommendation ;  the  com- 
panies are  composed  of  all  ranks  of  men  in  this  city, 
gentlemen  of  the  first  fortunes  are  common  soldiers ; 
this  example,  it  is  not  doubted,  will  be  followed  by 
every  town  and  county  in  this  province. 

'It  is  said  that  there  are  a  sufficient  number  of  citi- 
zens to  form  another  company,  which  it  is  hoped  will 
be  immediately  done.' 

'Baltimore,  ^prU  19th,  1775.' 
---^        Extracts  from  the  proceedings  of  the  Balti- 
more committee  of  observation. 


166  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

^Committee  Chamber,  April  3,  1775. 

^Information  being  made  to  the  committee  that  a 
few  individuals,  inhabitants  of  this  town,  have  of  late 
worn  pistols  or  private  arms,  alleging  in  justification 
of  their  conduct, 

'That  a  motion  had  been  made  in  the  committee  to 
sacrifice  some  of  the  persons  in  this  town,  who  differed 
from  them,  or  were  averse  to  the  public  measures  now 
carrying  on  in  this  province ;  and  that  they  wore  arms 
against  any  such  attempts.' 

'The  committee,  to  remove  any  prejudice  that  may 
be  taken  by  the  public  against  them,  and  to  prevent 
the  ill  effects  of  such  false  and  injurious  reports,  if 
circulated  without  contradiction,  do  solemnly  declare, 
that  no  such  motion  was  ever  made,  or  any  entry 
relative  to  the  same,  minuted  in  their  proceedings.  A 
few  members  of  the  committee  were  of  opinion,  that 
the  names  of  such  persons,  who  upon  application,  had, 
refused  to  contribute  for  the  purchase  of  arms  and 
ammunition,  should  be  published,  but  even  this  mea- 
sure was  over-ruled  in  the  committee  as  improper  at 
that  time. 

'Our  meetings  have  been  held  in  public,  nor  has  any 
person  who  thought  fit  to  attend,  ever  been  excluded. 
Our  records  are  free  and  open  for  inspection. 

'From  the  public  we  receive  our  authority,  not  by 
personal  solicitation,  but  a  free  and  voluntary  choice, 
to  that  tribunal  we  submit  our  actions. 

'Although  we  have  uniformly  persevered,  and  are 
determined  to  persevere  in  carrying  into  execution 
the  association  and  measures  of  the  congress,  yet  in 
no  instance  have  we  exceeded  the  line  pointed  out  by 
that  assembly,  and  our  provincial  assembly :  and  ab- 


w 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  167 

horring  every  idea  of  proscription,  the  committee  call 
upon  the  persons  who  have  circulated  the  aforesaid 
report,  to  disclose  the  author. 

('A  true  extract  from  the  minutes.) 

'R.  Alexander,  Sec.^ 

'April  15M,  1775. 

*The  committee  of  observation  for  Baltimore  county, 
reflecting  on  the  many  mischiefs  and  disorders,  usually 
attending  the  fairs  held  at  Baltimore  town,  and  willing 
in  all  things,  strictly  to  observe  the  regulations  of  the 
continental  congress,  who  in  their  eighth  resolution, 
have  advised  to  discountenance  and  discourage  every 
species  of  extravagance  and  dissipation,  especially 
horse-racing,  cock-fighting,  &c.,  have  unanimously 
resolved  to  recommend  it  to  the  good  people  of  this 
county,  and  do  hereby  earnestly  request,  that  they  will 
not  themselves  nor  will  suffer  any  of  their  families  to 
attend,  or  in  any  wise  encourage  the  approaching  fair? 
at  Baltimore  town ;  and  all  persons  are  desired  not  to 
erect  booths,  or  in  any  manner  prepare  for  holding  the 
said  fair. 

'We  are  persuaded  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  in 
particular  will  see  the  propriety  of  this  measure,  and 
the  necessity  of  enforcing  it,  as  the  fairs  have  been 
a  nuisance  long  before  complained  of  by  them,  as 
serving  no  other  purpose  than  debauching  the  morals 
of  their  children  and  servants,  affording  an  opportunity 
for  perpetrating  thefts,  encouraging  riots,  drunkenness, 
gaming,  and  the  vilest  immoralities. 

'Sam.  Purviance,  Jun.,  Chairman.^ 

'April  mh,  1775. 
'The  chairman  of  the  committee  for  Baltimore  county 


168  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

has  this  day  received  from  Mr.  John  Veazey,  j6306 
5s.  Od.,  being  the  very  generous  donation  of  Cecil 
county,  for  the  relief  of  the  distressed  inhabitants  of 
Boston.' 

*Annapolis,  July  20th,  1775. 

*The  ship  *  Totness,^  captain  Harding,  belonging  to 
Mr.  Gildard,  of  Liverpool,  having  on  board  a  cargo 
of  salt  and  dry  goods,  in  coming  up  the  bay,  ran 
aground  near  the  three  Islands  at  the  mouth  of  West 
river ;  upon  this  the  committee  immediately  met,  and 
after  consideration,  determined  she  should  proceed 
on  to  Baltimore,  her  intended  port,  but  before  she 
could  get  off,  highly  resenting  so  daring  an  infringe- 
ment of  the  continental  association,  a  number  of  people 
met,  went  on  board,  and  set  her  on  fire.' 

The  following  handsome  compliment  to  general 
Charles  Lee,  by  the  congress  of  the  Massachusetts 
colony,  is  inserted  here,  in  respect  to  the  memory  of 
that  accomplished  gentleman  and  distinguished  officer. 
General  Lee,  up  to  the  22d  of  June,  1775,  was  an 
officer  in  the  British  army,  on  half  pay.'  On  that  day 
he  addressed  a  letter  to  Lord  Viscount  Barrington, 
secretary  of  war,  in  which  he  said, — 

'Although  I  can  by  no  means  subscribe  to  the 
opinion  of  divers  people  in  the  world,  that  an  officer 
on  half  pay  is  to  be  considered  in  service,  yet  I  think 
it  a  point  of  delicacy  to  pay  a  deference  to  this  opinion 
erroneous  and  absurd  as  it  is.  I  therefore  apprize 
your  lordship  in  the  most  public  and  solemn  manner, 
that  I  do  renounce  my  half  pay  from  the  date  hereof. 
At  the  same  time,  I  beg  to  assure  your  lordship  that 
whenever  it  shall  please  his  majesty  to  call  me  forth  to 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  169 

any  honourable  service  against  the  natural  hereditary 
enemies  of  our  country,  or  in  defence  of  his  just  rights 
and  dignity,  no  man  will  obey  the  righteous  summons 
with  more  zeal  and  alacrity  than  myself ;  but  the  pre- 
sent measures  seem  to  me  so  absolutely  subversive  of 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  every  individual  subject,  so 
destructive  to  the  whole  empire  at  large,  and  ultimately 
so  ruinous  to  his  majesty's  own  person,  dignity,  and 
family,  that  I  think  myself  obliged  in  conscience  as  a 
citizen,  Englishman,  and  soldier  of  a  free  State,  to 
exert  my  utmost  to  defeat  them.' 

'Cambridge,  July  6th,  1775. 

'To  the  honourable  Charles  Lee,  Esq.,  major-gene- 
ral of  the  continental  army. 

'Sir :  The  congress  of  the  Massachusetts  colony, 
possessed  of  the  fullest  evidence  of  your  attachment 
to  the  rights  of  mankind,  and  regard  to  the  distresses 
which  America  in  general,  and  this  colony  in  particu- 
lar, are  involved  in,  by  the  impolitic,  wicked  and 
tyrannic  system,  adopted  by  administration,  and  pur- 
sued with  relentless  and  savage  fury,  do  with  pleasure 
embrace  this  opportunity  to  express  the  great  satisfac- 
tion and  gratitude  they  feel  on  your  appointment  as  a 
major-general  in  the  American  army. 

'We  sincerely  congratulate  you  on  your  safe  arrival 
here,  and  wish  you  all  possible  happiness  and  success 
in  the  execution  of  so  important  a  trust.  We  admire 
and  respect  the  character  of  a  man  who,  disregarding 
the  allurements  of  profit  and  distinction  his  merit  might 
procure,  engages  in  the  cause  of  mankind,  in  defence 
of  the  injured,  and  the  relief  of  the  oppressed.  From 
your  character,  from  your  great  abilities  and  military 
15 


170  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

experience,  united  with  tho^  of  the  commander-in- 
chief,  under  the  smiles  of  Providence,  we  flatter  our- 
selves with  the  prospect  of  discipline  and  order,  success 
and  victory. 

*Be  assured,  sir,  that  it  will  give  us  great  pleasure 
to  contribute  to  your  happiness.  May  the  favour  and 
blessings  of  heaven  attend  you.  May  divine  Provi- 
dence guard  and  protect  you,  conduct  you  in  the 
paths  of  honour  and  virtue,  grant  you  the  reward  of 
the  brave  and  virtuous,  the  applauses  of  mankind, 
and  the  approbation  of  your  own  conscience,  and 
eternal  happiness  hereafter.' 

To  which  general  Lee  replied, — 

'Gentlemen :  Nothing  can  be  so  flattering  to  me 
as  the  good  opinion  and  approbation  of  the  delegates 
of  a  free  and  uncorrupt  people.  I  was  educated  in 
the  highest  reverence  for  the  rights  of  mankind,  and 
have  acquired,  by  a  long  acquaintance,  a  most  par- 
ticular regard  for  the  people  of  America.  You  may 
depend,  therefore,  gentlemen,  on  my  zeal  and  integrity. 
I  can  promise  you  nothing  from  my  abilities.  God 
Almighty  grant  us  success,  equal  to  the  righteousness 
of  the  cause.  I  thank  you,  gentlemen,  for  an  address 
which  does  me  so  much  honour,  and  shall  labour  to 
deserve  it.' 

On  the  arrival  of  general  Burgoyne  in  America, 
general  Lee,  who  had  been  on  terms  of  intimacy  and 
friendship  with  him,  addressed  him  a  letter,  in  which 
he  sets  forth  in  bold  relief  the  'wickedness  and  treach- 
ery' of  the  British  government,  and  expresses  his 
deep  regret  that  'men  of  such  a  stamp  as  Mr.  Bur- 
goyne and  Mr.  Howe,  can  be  seduced  into  so  impious 
and  nefarious  a  service  by  the  artifice  of  a  wicked  and 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  171 

insidious  court  and  cabinet,' — and  says,  *not  less  than 
150,000  gentlemen,  yeomen,  and  farmers  are  now  in 
arms,  determined  to  preserve  their  liberties  or  perish.' 
He  defends  the  Americans  against  the  charge  of  cow- 
ardice, and  passes  a  high  encomium  on  their  bravery, 
and  reminds  him  of  some  instances  of  the  reverse, 
^particularly  where  the  late  col.  Grant  (he  who  lately 
pledged  himself  for  the  general  cowardice  of  America,) 
ran  away  with  a  large  body  of  his  own  regiment,  and 
was  saved  from  destruction  by  the  valor  of  a  few 
Virginians.* 

General  Burgoyne,  in  reply  to  this  letter,  defends 
the  course  he  pursued,  and  justifies  that  of  his  govern- 
ment, but  expresses  great  personal  regard  for  general 
Lee,  and  desires  to  have  an  interview  with  him,  for 
the  purpose  of  delivering  into  his  own  hand  some 
letters,  'as  well  as  to  renew  the  rights  of  our  fellow- 
ship.' To  this  general  Lee  replied  by  the  following 
card: 

'Cambridge,  Head  Quarters^  July  11/A,  1775. 

'General  Lee's  compliments  to  general  Burgoyne — 
would  be  extremely  happy  in  the  interview  he  so 
kindly  proposed.  But  as  he  perceives  that  general 
Burgoyne  has  already  made  up  his  mind  on  this  great 
subject,  and  that  it  is  impossible  that  he  (general  Lee) 
should  ever  alter  his  opinion,  he  is  apprehensive  that 
the  interview  might  create  those  jealousies  and  sus- 
picions so  natural  to  a  people  struggling  in  the  dearest 
of  all  causes,  that  of  their  liberty,  property,  wives, 
children,  and  their  future  generations.  He  must  there- 
fore defer  the  happiness  of  embracing  a  man  whom 
he  most  sincerely  loves,  until  the  subversion  of  the 


172  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

present  tyrannical  ministry  and  system,  which  he  is 
persuaded  must  be  in  a  few  months,  as  he  knows 
Great  Britain  cannot  stand  the  contest.  He  begs 
general  Burgoyne  will  send  the  letters  which  his  aid- 
de-camp  has  for  him.  If  Gardiner  is  his  aid-de-camp, 
he  desires  his  love  to  him.'* 

,-7fi        On  the  21st  of  January,  of  this  year,  (1776,) 
w^e  find  the  following  proceedings  were  had  by 
the  council  of  safety,  relative  to  the  harbour  of  An- 
napolis : 

'Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Lancelot  Jacques,  Charles 
Wallace,  William  Hyde,  Allen  Quynn,  James  Brice, 
William  Whetcroft,  and  Beriah  Maybury,  or  any  three 
of  them,  be  requested  to  make  a  chart  of  the  land  and 
water  at  the  mouth  of  this  river,  specifying  the  width 
and  depth  of  the  channel  between  Horn  point  and 
Greensbury's  point,  and  some  distance  without  and 
within  the  same.' 

On  the  16th  of  March  following,  the  gentlemen 
retiirned  a  chart  of  their  survey,  but  which,  like  many 
other  of  our  public  documents,  is  not  to  be  found 
among  the  archives  of  our  State. 

The  convention  of  Maryland  appropriated  the  sum 
of  five  thousand  nine  hundred  pounds  to  fortify  this 
city.  But  the  council  of  safety  doubting  the  suffi- 
ciency of  that  appropriation  to  erect  suitable  fortifica- 
tions for  the  defence  of  the  city,  expressed  their 
opinion  to  the  convention  that,  with^  an  additional 
sum,  batteries   might    be   erected    on    Greensbury's, 

*  See  Appendix,  for  a  letter  from  general  Lee  to  the  president 
of  the  council  of  safety  of  Maryland,  justificatory  of  the  part  he 
took  in  advising  the  seizure  of  the  ""person  and  papers  of  governor 
Robert  Edin — a  letter  replete  with  the  noblest  sentiments  of  patriot- 
ism and  zeal,  in  the  cause  of  American  liberty. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  173 

Horn,  and  Windmill  points,  and  other  places  adjacent, 
between  those  places  and  the  city,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  which  would  fully  answer  the  purpose  of 
preventing  men-of-war  approaching  the  town.  They^ 
therefore  asked,  and  obtained  from  the  convention, 
authority  to  draw  on  the  treasury  for  whatever  sums 
they  might  deem  necessary  to  complete  the  fortifi- 
cations, and  to  build  a  number  of  'row-gallies  or 
gondolas.' 

Fortifications  were  accordingly  erected  on  Horn 
point,  Beamen's  hill,  and  Windmill  point,  besides  seve- 
ral breast-works  which  were  made  at  various  other 
places.  These  were  all  completed,  with  great  vigour 
and  perseverance,  under  the  superintendance  of  Messrs. 
James  Brice,  John  Bullen,  Charles  Wallace,  William 
Wilkins,  Beriah  Maybury,  John  Brice,  John  Campbell, 
Joshua  Fraizer,  and  Allen  Quynn. 

The  council  of  safety,  apprehending  that  the  great 
number  of  slaughter-houses  then  in  the  city,  would 
engender  disease,  adopted  on  the  22d  day  of  July, 
the  following  order : 

'■Whereas^  it  hath  been  represented  to  the  council 
of  safety  by  physicians  and  others,  that  the  intolerable 
stench  arising  from  slaughter-houses  and  spreading 
green  hides  to  dry  in  the  city  of  Annapolis,  may  be 
productive  of  pestilential  disorders  and  ill  consequences 
to  the  troops  and  others  residing  in  the  said  city. 
Therefore,  ordered,  that  no  butcher  or  other  person 
shall,  after  the  26th  day  of  this  instant,  presume  to 
slaughter  bullocks,  mutton,  or  any  kind  of  meat,  or 
put  up  green  hides  to  cure  within  the  limits  of  said 
city  for  and  during  the  term  of  three  months,  thence 
next  ensuing.* 
15* 


174  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  several  of  the  citizens 
of  Annapolis  having  received  letters  demanding  their 
immediate  departure  from  the  city,  and  the  council  of 
safety  being  informed  thereof,  expressed  their  sense 
of  the  illegality  of  such  a  measure,  by  the  following 
proceedings : 

'In  Council  of  Safety,  Dec.  19,  1776. 

*We  are  called  upon  by  the  duty  of  our  station  to 
take  notice  of  the  powers  assumed  by  some  persons 
yesterday  evening  in  ordering  divers  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  city  of  Annapolis  into  banishment,  with- 
out any  cause  assigned,  by  cards  transmitted  them. 
We  are  of  opinion  such  cards  are  contrary  to  our 
association,  flying  in  the  face  of  the  resolves  of  con- 
gress and  convention,  and  against  the  letter  and  spirit 
of  our  declaration  of  rights.  The  peace  of  the  State 
ought  and  must  be  preserved,  and  all  offenders  brought 
before  the  proper  judicatures  for  tryal.  Therefore  we 
earnestly  recommend  to  all  associators  and  other  well 
disposed  persons  to  discourage  such  extra-judicial  and 
disorderly  proceedings,  tending  in  their  consequences 
to  prejudice  the  common  cause,  and  to  the  destruction 
of  order  and  regular  government.' 

And  on  the  23d  of  the  same  month,  the  following 
further  proceedings  were  had : 

'  Whereas f  we  have  received  information  that  on 
Wednesday,  the  18th  day  of  this  instant,  (December) 
in  the  evening,  cards  were  delivered  to  sundry  persons 
in  the  city  of  Annapolis,  to  the  following  effect : 

'You  are  hereby  ordered  to  depart  this  city  to-mor- 
row, 9  o'clock.     Signed,  J.  We  ems, 

'In  behalf  of  Anne  Arundel  county.' 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  175 

'Which  cards  we  are  informed  were  delivered  by- 
Stephen  Steward,  Junior,  the  council  of  safety  having 
taken  the  same  into  consideration,  are  of  opinion  that 
such  cards  are  contrary  to  the  resolves  of  congress  and 
convention,  and  against  the  21st  section  of  the  decla- 
ration of  rights,  which  asserts  : 

*  'That  no  freeman  ought  to  be  taken  or  imprisoned, 
or  deprived  of  his  freehold,  liberties  or  privileges,  or 
outlawed,  or  exiled,  or  in  any  manner  destroyed,  or 
deprived  of  his  life,  liberty  or  property,  but  by  the 
judgment  of  his  peers  or  by  the  law  of  the  land.' 

'Ordered,  therefore,  that  the  said  John  Weems  and 
Stephen  Steward,  Junior,  attend  the  council  of  safety 
on  the  thirtieth  day  of  December,  to  shew  by  what 
authority  the  said  cards  were  so  made  out  and  de- 
livered.' 

On  the  30th  of  December,  colonel  John  Weems  and 
Stephen  Steward,  Junior,  accordingly  appeared  before 
the  council  of  safety,  and  acknowledged  that  they  had 
been  active  in  making  out  and  delivering  the  cards 
mentioned  in  the  order  of  the  board,  and  having  pro- 
mised that  they  would  not  intermeddle  in  the  same 
manner  again,  but  would  leave  all  persons  to  be  dealt 
with  according  to  the  law  of  the  land.  They  were 
dismissed  by  the  council,  on  condition  that  they  pay 
the  messenger  his  fees. 

On  Tuesday,  the  5th  of  March,  about  seven  in  the 
evening,  information  was  received  at  this  place,  that  a 
man-of-war  and  two  tenders  were  coming  up  the  bay, 
and  had  taken  a  New  England  schooner  lying  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Patuxent  river,  the  wind  blowing  hard 
at  S.  W.  and  the  general  expectation  was,  that  they 
would  be  at  Annapolis  in  a  few  hours,  the  necessary 


176  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

dispositions  were  made  to  receive  them  in  case  they 
thought  proper  to  land,  and  expresses  were  despatched 
to  Baltimore  and  other  parts  of  the  province,  to  com- 
municate the  intelligence.  Between  twelve  and  one 
o'clock  on  Tuesday  night  the  wind  shifted,  and  blew  a 
violent  gale  at  N.  W.,  and  so  continued  all  day  on 
Wednesday,  during  which  time  there  was  no  certain 
information  of  the  position  of  the  vessels.  On  Thurs- 
day there  was  a  light  breeze  up  the  bay,  and  about 
two  o'clock  the  vessels  hove  in  sight,  and  at  half  past 
three  came  opposite  to  the  city  with  some  prizes,  and 
stood  up  the  bay.  Off  the  mouth  of  this  harbour  they 
burnt  a  shallop  loaded  with  oats,  and  in  the  evening 
anchored  off  the  mouth  of  the  Patapsco.  On  Friday 
night  intelligence  was  received,  that  the  vessels  were 
the  Otier  sloop-of-war^  and  two  tenders,  and  the  gene- 
ral opinion  was  entertained,  that  they  were  going  to 
Baltimore  to  take  or  destroy  the  ship  Defence.  The 
Defence,  however,  being  got  ready  on  Friday  night, 
towed  down  the  river,  manned  with  a  number  of  brave 
fellows,  all  of  whom  were  Americans  in  their  hearts, 
and  most  of  them  by  birth,  attended  by  several  smaller 
vessels,  crowded  with  men,  to  assist  in  case  of  an 
engagement.  Captain  Nicholson,  of  the  Defence^  got 
under  way  early  on  Saturday  morning,  resolved  to 
re-take  Hudson's  ship,  (a  large  vessel  the  Otter  had 
made  a  prize  of,  loaded  with  wheat  and  flour,)  and  to 
engage  the  Otter,  if  she  moved  to  assist  the  tenders 
which  guarded  the  prize ;  the  morning  was  thick 
and  hazy,  and  the  Defence  got  nearer  to  them  than 
was  expected,  before  they  discovered  her  bearing 
down  upon  them,  those  on  board  the  tenders  appeared 
much  alarmed,  and  pushed  off  with  precipitation,  and 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  I77 

on  a  signal  given,  more  hands  were  sent  by  the  Otter 
to  assist  in  rowing  them  off,  which  was  effected  with 
difficuhy,  leaving  three  or  four  small  prizes,  besides 
Hudson's  ship,  all  of  which  fell  into  the  hands  of 
captain  Nicholson,  who  having  manned  the  prize  ship, 
and  seeing  the  Olter  get  under  way,  clued  up  her 
courses  and  prepared  for  battle,  expecting  her  to 
come  up,  but  the  '■Otter''  having  waited  about  two 
hours,  as  if  in  expectation  of  captain  Nicholson's 
coming  down,  at  length  bore  away,  and  in  the  after- 
noon came  to  anchor  off  this  port.  Captain  Nicholson 
continued  his  station  some  time,  and  having  performed 
his  duty  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  returned  with  his 
prizes  to  Baltimore. 

On  Sunday  morning  the  Otter  sloop  and  her  tenders 
made  sail  and  went  down  the  bay.  The  regulars, 
militia,  and  the  people  in  general,  behaved  on  this 
occasion  in  the  most  spirited  and   patriotic  manner. 

At  this  period  of  gloom  and  general  distress,  balls 
were  prohibited  in  this  place,  and  throughout  the 
province,  by  a  resolve  of  the  convention.  The  public 
mind  at  this  period,  disinclined  as  it  was  to  the  indul- 
gence of-  the  ordinary  pleasures  and  amusements  of 
life,  was  devoted  to  matters  of  a  serious  character,  and 
therefore  musket  and  cannon  halls  lost  none  of  the 
public  favour  under  the  interdiction  referred  to. 

'Annapolis,  July  6th,  1776. 

*^  declaration  of  the  delegates  of  Maryland. 

'To  be   exempt   from    parliamentary  taxation,   and 

to  regulate  their  internal  government  and  polity,  the 

people  of  this  colony  have  ever  considered   as   their 

inherent  and   unalienable  right :  without  the  former, 


4 
178  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

they   can   have   no  property ;  without  the   latter,  no  ' 
security  for  their  lives  or  liberties. 

'The  parliament  of  Great  Britain  has  of  late  claimed 
an  uncontroulable  right  of  binding  these  colonies  in 
all  cases  whatsoever,  to  force  an  unconditional  sub- 
mission to  this  claim,  the  legislative  and  executive 
powers  of  that  State  have  invariably  pursued  for  these 
ten  years  past,  a  studied  system  of  oppression,  by 
passing  many  impolitic,  severe  and  cruel  acts  for 
raising  a  revenue  from  the  colonists,  by  depriving 
them  in  many  cases  of  the  trial  by  jury,  by  altering 
the  chartered  constitution  of  one  colony,  and  the 
entire  stoppage  of  the  trade  of  its  capital,  by  cutting 
off  all  intercourse  between  the  colonies,  by  restraining 
them  from  fishing  on  their  own  coasts,  by  extending 
the  limits  of  and  erecting  an  arbitrary  government  in 
the  province  of  Quebec,  by  confiscating  the  property 
of  the  colonists  taken  on  the  seas,  and  compelling 
the  crews  of  their  vessels,  under  the  pain  of  death, 
to  act  against  their  native  country  and  dearest  friends, 
by  declaring  all  seizures,  detention,  or  destruction 
of  the  persons,  or  property  of  the  colonists,  to  be 
legal  and  just. 

'A  war  unjustly  commenced,  hath  been  prosecuted 
against  the  united  colonies  with  cruelty,  outrageous 
violence  and  perfidy ;  slaves,  savages  and  foreign  mer- 
cenaries, have  been  meanly  hired  to  rob  a  people 
of  their  property,  liberty  and  lives ;  a  people  guilty 
of  no  other  crime  than  deeming  the  last  of  no  esti- 
mation without  the  secure  enjoyment  of  the  former. 
Their  humble  and  dutiful  petitions  for  peace,  liberty 
and  safety,  have  been  rejected  with  scorn ;  secure  of 
and  relying  on  foreign  aid,  not  on  his  national  forces, 


»* 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  179 

the  unrelenting  monarch  of  Britain  hath  at  length 
avowed  by  his  answer  to  the  city  of  London,  his 
determined  and  inexorable  resolution  of  reducing  these 
colonies  to  abject  slavery. 

'Compelled  by  dire  necessity,  either  to  surrender 
our  properties,  liberties  and  lives,  into  the  hands  of 
a  British  king  and  parliament,  or  to  use  such  means 
as  will  most  probably  secure  to  us  and  our  posterity 
those  invaluable  blessings. 

'We,  the  delegates  of  Maryland,  in  convention 
assembled,  do  declare,  that  the  king  of  Great  Britain 
has  violated  his  compact  with  this  people,  and  that 
they  owe  no  allegiance  to  him.  We  have  therefore 
thought  it  just  and  necessary  to  empower  our  deputies 
in  congress  to  join  with  a  majority  of  the  united 
colonies  in  declaring  them  free  and  independent  States, 
in  framing  such  other  confederacy  between  them,  in 
making  foreign  alliances,  and  in  adopting  such  other 
measures  as  shall  be  judged  necessary  for  the  preser- 
vation of  their  liberties ;  provided  the  sole  and  exclu- 
sive rights  of  regulating  the  internal  polity  and  govern- 
ment of  this  colony  be  reserved  to  the  people  thereof. 
We  have  also  thought  proper  to  call  a  new  convention, 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  government  in  this 
colony.  No  ambitious  views,  no  desire  of  indepen- 
dence, induce  the  people  of  Maryland  to  form  an  union 
with  the  other  colonies.  To  procure  an  exemption 
from  parliamentary  taxation,  and  to  continue  to  the 
legislatures  of  these  colonies  the  sole  and  exclusive 
right  of  regulating  their  internal  polity,  was  our  original 
and  only  motive. 

'To  maintain  inviolate  our  liberties,  and  to  trans- 
mit them  unimpaired  to  posterity,  was  our  duty  and 


180  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

first  wish ;  our  next,  to  continue  connected  with,  and 
dependent  on  Great  Britain.  For  the  truth  of  these 
assertions,  we  appeal  to  that  Almighty  Being  who  is 
emphatically  styled  the  searcher  of  hearts,  and  from 
whose  omniscience  nothing  is  concealed.  Relying  on 
His  divine  protection  and  assistance,  and  trusting  to 
the  justice  of  our  cause,  we  exhort  and  conjure  every 
virtuous  citizen  to  join  cordially  in  defence  of  our 
common  rights,  and  in  maiutenance  of  the  freedom 
of  this  and  her  sister  colonies.'* 

'At  a  meeting  of  the  associators  of  the  city  of  An- 
napolis, on  Thursday,  the  11th  oif  July,  1776. 

'William  Roberts,  Esq.,  Chairman. 
'John  Duckett,  Clerk. 

'1st.  Resolved^  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  inhabi- 
tant of  the  city  of  Annapolis,  and  all  persons  having 
property  therein,  to  contribute  every  assistance  tti  their 
power  for  the  protection  and  defence  of  the  city  and 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  that  Mr.  James  Brice,  Mr. 
John  Bullen,  Mr.  Charles  Wallace,  Mr.  William  Wil- 
kins,  Mr.  Beriah  Maybury,  Mr.  John  Brice  and  Mr. 
John  Campbell,  or  a  majority  of  them,  or  of  any  three 
or  more  of  them,  be  a  committee  to  act  on  behalf  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  city,  and  that  they  wait  on  the 
'council  of  safety,'  and  inform  them  that  the  inhabitants 
will  afford  every  assistance  in  their  power  for  putting 
the  city  into  the  best  posture  of  defence  ;  and  that  the 
inhabitants  will  in  person,  or  by  others  employed  at 
their  expense,  labour  on  any  intrenchments  or  works, 
which  the  council  shall  think  necessary. 

'2d.  Resolved^  That  the  said  committee  be  empow- 

*  See  Appendix,  for  two  letters  from  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  to 
the  convention  of  Maryland,  one  dated  June  4th,  and  the  other  July 
8th,  1776. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  181 

ered  to  call  on  every  inhabitant  of  the  city,  and  every 
person  having  property  therein,  to  labour  in  person,  or 
to  furnish  some  person  to  labour  in  his  stead,  at  such 
time  and  place  as  the  committee  shall  think  proper,  on 
the  works  as  may  be  ordered  by  the  council  of  safety, 
to  be  erected  for  the  defence  of  the  city. 

^3d.  Resolved,  That  the  said  committee  be  autho- 
rized to  execute  all  matters  which  may  be  recom- 
mended by  the  council  of  safety,  for  the  defence  of  the 
city,  or  for  keeping  the  peace  and  good  order  therein. 
'4th.  Resolved,  That  no  member  of  this  meeting 
will,  and  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  meeting  that 
no  inhabitant  of  the  city  of  Annapolis  ought,  to  buy 
from  or  employ,  any  merchant,  tradesman,'  or  any 
other  person  who  hath  not  subscribed  the  association. 
'5th.  Resolved,  That  application  be  made  by  the 
committee  to  the  council  of  safety  not  to  employ 
in  the  public  service  any  non-associator,  and  that 
they  be  requested  to  give  a  preference  to  such  trades- 
men and  others  as  have  manifested  their  attachment 
and  zeal  to  the  liberties  of  America. 

''Ordered,  That  copies  of  the  above  resolutions  be 
transmitted  by  the  chairman  to  the  associators  of  Bal- 
timore town  for  their  opinion  and  concurrence. 

^Ordered,  That  the  names  of  the  non-associators 
in  this  city  be  published  and  distributed  among  the 
inhabitants. 

^Resolved,  That  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  the 
10th  day  of  August  next,  and  that  the  committee 
have  power  to  call  a  meeting  at  any  time  before,  if 
they  shall  think  proper. 

'True  copy  of  the  proceedings. 

'Test,        Jno.  Duckett,  Clerk.^ 
16 


J  82  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

*Annapolis,  July  11/A,  1776. 
^Yesterday  evening  six  companies  of  the  first  bat- 
talion of  Maryland  troops  stationed  in  this  city,  and 
commanded  by  Col.  William  Smallwood,  embarked 
for  the  head  of  Elk  in  high  spirits,  and  three  compa- 
nies of  the  same  battalion  stationed  in  Baltimore  town, 
embarked  yesterday  morning  for  the  same  place,  from 
thence  they  are  to  proceed  to  Philadelphia.' 

Extracts  of  a  letter  from  Philadelphia,  dated, 

'■July  6,  1776,  Saturday  morning. 

'General  Howe  has  landed  a  great  body  of  troops 
on  Staten  Island  :  his  force  cannot  be  ascertained. 
General  Washington  and  his  troops  are  in  high  spirits. 
The  strength  of  our  army  at  New  York  cannot  be 
ascertained,  the  militia  pour  in  so  fast  that  it  is  im- 
practicable. The  Jersey  militia,  amounting  to  3500, 
have  acquired  great  honour,  in  forming  and  marching 
with  such  alacrity  and  expedition.  They  have  for 
some  time  past  got  over  to  New  York.  The  batta- 
lions of  our  city  (every  one  of  them)  are  marching  to 
Trenton  and  Brunswick,  in  the  Jerseys.  The  rifle 
battalion  in  the  pay  of  this  province,  marched  yester- 
day for  the  same  places.  The  militia  in  the  counties 
are  also  ordered  to  march :  out  of  these  bodies  they 
mean  to  form  their  quota  of  the  flying  camp,  to  be 
posted  in  the  Jerseys,  and  to  be  at  the  command  of 
general  Washington.  It  is  expected  that  the  lower 
counties  and  Maryland  will  immediately  march  their 
quotas  of  militia,  to  compose  the  flying  camp,  to  this 
city,  to  defend  it  in  the  absence  of  its  own  battalions. 

'Your  hour  of  trial  is  come,  your  plighted  faith, 
your  public  honour,    the  love   of  your  country,   and 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  183 

its  dearest  liberties,  in  this  moment  of  imminent  danger, 
demand  that  you  instantly  fly  to  the  assistance  of  a 
sister  colony.' 

^  Saturday y  noon. 

'An  express  is  just  arrived  from  general  Wash- 
ington, Howe's  army  consists  of  10,000  men :  Admi- 
ral Howe  is  not  yet  arrived,  but  hourly  expected  with 
150  sail,  having  on  board  20,000  troops.  The  ene- 
my's grand  army  will  consist  of  30,000.  The  whole 
militia  of  this  province  are  ordered  to  the  Jerseys. 
We  are  in  anxious  expectation  to  hear  from  Mar}'- 
land,  nor  can  we  for  a  moment  entertain  a  doubt  that 
our  brethren  will  not  desert  us,  in  the  day' of  our  dis- 
tress. The  farmers  here  have  left  their  harvest,  and 
cast  away  the  scythe  for  the  musket.  I  should  rejoice 
to  hear  you  have  imitated  so  laudable,  so  glorious  an 
example.' 

How  Maryland  responded  to  this  appeal  to  her 
patriotism  and  love  of  country,  is  well  known.  The 
battle-fields  of  Long  Island,  White  Plains,  Camden, 
the  Cowpens,  and  of  Eutaw,  tested  the  valor  of  her 
sons,  and  proved  them  to  be  worthy  of  the  freedom 
they  were  resolved  to  achieve,  or  perish  in  the  attempt. 

In  council,  as  well  as  in  the  field,  they  were  ever 
found  ready  to  support  the  freedom  and  independence 
of  America. 

Extracts  of  letters  from  New  York. 

'New  York,  Jugvst  21th,  1776. 

'I  sit  down  in  the  midst  of  confusion  to  tell  you 
that  our  people  have  been  engaged  with  the  enemy 
on  Long  Island,  all  this  morning,  and  are  at  it  yet; 
we  cannot  get  at  particulars. 


184  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS^ 

*P.  S.  The  first  battalion  of  New  York,  colonel 
Lasher,  and  the  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  battalions 
behaved  with  the  greatest  bravery,  even  to  a  fault. 
They  were  commanded  by  Lord  Sterling.  We  forced 
the  enemy  into  their  lines.' 

'Philadelphia,  August  31s<. 

'You  will  no  doubt  be  very  anxious  to  receive  a 
particular  account  of  the  late  engagement  between 
our  troops  and  the  enemy  on  Long  Island. 

'Smallwood's  battalion  of  Marylanders  were  dis- 
tinguished in  the  field  by  the  most  intrepid  courage, 
the  most  regular  use  of  the  musket,  and  judicious 
movements  of  the  body.  When  our  party  was  over- 
powered and  broken  by  superior  numbers  surround- 
ing them  on  all  sides,  three  companies  of  the  Mary- 
land battalion  broke  the  enemy's  lines  and  fought 
their  way  through.  Captain  Veazey  and  lieutenant 
Butler,  are  among  the  honourable  slain.  The  Mary- 
land battalion  lost  200  men  and  twelve  officers — severe 
fate.     It  is  said  our  whole  loss  is  five  or  six  hundred.' 

'New  York,  September  1. 
'Last  Monday  morning  we  went  over  to  Long 
Island,*  and  about  midnight  we  were  alarmed.'  'Upon 
which  near  three  thousand  men  were  ordered  out, 
consisting  chiefly  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 
troops.'  'The  Delaware  and  Maryland  battalions 
made  one  party.'  'Our  orders  were  not  to  fire  until 
the  enemy  came  within  fifty  yards  of  us,  but  when 
they  perceived  we  stood  their  fire  so  coolly  and  reso- 
lutely,  they   declined   coming   any  nearer,    although 

*  See  Appendix,  for  an  official  account  of  this  battle  from  colonel 
Smallwood,  to  the  convention  of  Maryland.  ^a^T 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  185 

treble  our  number.  In  this  situation  we  stood  from 
sunrise  to  twelve  o'clock,  the  enemy  firing  upon  us 
the  chief  part  of  the  time,  when  the  main  body  of 
their  army,  by  a  rout  we  never  dreamed  of,  had  entirely 
surrounded  us,  and  drove  within  the  lines,  or  scattered 
in  the  woods,  all  our  men,  except  the  Delaware  and 
Maryland  battalions,  who  were  standing  at  bay  with 
double  their  number,  broke  the  enemy's  lines  and 
forced  their  way  through.' 

'Many  thought  they  would  surrender  in  a  body, 
without  firing;  when  they  began  the  attack,  general 
Washington  wrung  his  hands,  and  cried  out,  good 
God^  what  brave  fellows  1  must  this  day  lose  !  Major 
Gist  commanded  the  Maryland  battalion,  the  colonel 
and  lieutenant-colonel  being  both  at  New  York.  All 
our  officers  behaved  extremely  well.  Captain  Smith 
and  lieut.  Steret  conducted  their  companies  to  a  charm.' 
*Our  army  was  drove  to  the  lines.  The  enemy  came 
within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  our  fort,  but 
were  repulsed  with  great  loss.' 

'A  list  of  Maryland  officers  made  prisoners  at  Long 
Island. 

*Capt.  Daniel  Bowie,  wounded  ;  lieutenants  William 
Steret,  William  Ridgely,  Hatch  Dent,  Walter'Muse, 
Samuel  Wright,  Joseph  Butler,  wounded,  Edward 
Praul,  Edward  de  Courcy  ;  ensigns  James  Fernandes, 
William  Courts.' 

On  Friday,  the  21st  of  March,  1777,  Thomas 
*  Johnson,  Junior,  Esquire,  the  first  republican 
governor  of  Maryland,  was  proclaimed  at  the  state- 
house,  in  the  presence  of  a  great  number  of  people, 
all  of  whom  expressed  the  highest  satisfaction  on  the 
occasion ;  after  which  a  procession  was  formed,  con- 
16* 


186  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS. 

sisting  of  the  several  branches  of  the  government, 
mayor  and  city  authorities,  military,  strangers  and 
citizens. 

On  a  signal  of  three  voUies  of  small  arms  from 
the  soldiery,  who  were  paraded  in  front  of  the  state- 
house,  thirteen  cannon  were  fired. 

The  procession  then  repaired  to  the  'coffee-house' 
and  partook  of  a  sumptuous  entertainment,  during 
which  many  patriotic  toasts  were  drank.  The  whole 
concluded  with  an  elegant  ball  in  the  evening. 

*0n  Thursday,  the  21st  of  August,  between  two 
and  three  hundred  sail  of  British  ships-of-war,  trans- 
ports, &c.,  passed  the  mouth  of  this  harbour,  (Anna- 
polis,) about  9  o'clock,  a.  m.,  and  stood  up  the  bay.' 

Immediately  after  this  fleet  had  passed  Annapolis, 
governor  Johnson  issued  his  proclamation,  calling  on 
all  the  county  lieutenants,  field  and  other  officers  of 
the  militia  of  the  western  shore  of  this  state,  to  march 
at  least  two  full  companies  of  each  battalion  imme- 
diately to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Susquehanna  river, 
in  Cecil  and  Harford  counties,  and  in  concluding  the 
proclamation,  says,  'to  defend  our  liberties,  requires 
our  exertions  ;  our  wives,  our  children,  and  our  coun- 
try, implore  our  assistance :  motives  amply  sufficient 
to  arm  every  one  who  can  be  called  a  man.'  The 
governor  received  information  by  express,  that  the 
eastern  shore  militia  'were  collecting  in  great  num- 
bers, determined  to  make  the  most  obstinate  resistance 
against  this  invasion  of  the  State.' 

Mr.  Griffith,  in  his  'Annals  of  Baltimore,'  says, 
'Lord  Howe's  fleet  anchored  near  the  mouth  of  Pa- 
tapsco  river,  but  proceeded  to  Turkey  point,  on  Elk 
river,  near  which  the  British  army  under  sir  William 


ANNALS   OF   ANNAPOLIS.  187 

Howe  was  landed.'  That,  *the  independent  company 
now  under  captain  John  Sterett,  trained  as  infantry, 
mounted  their  own  horses,  proceeded  to  watch  the 
enemy  on  the  bay  side,  and  arriving  before  them  at 
the  head  of  it,  joined  the  main  army,  including  the 
Maryland  line,  near  Newport,  but  were  then  ordered 
back  by  the  commander-in-chief  to  assist  in  protecting 
their  homes.' 

^On  the  11th  September,  was  fought  the  battle  of 
Brandywine,  at  which  the  Maryland  line  was  present 
and  shared  the  disasters  of  the  day.' 

'General  Smallwood,  with  Maryland  militia,  includ- 
ing captains  Sterett,  Cox  and  Bailey's  companies  from 
Baltimore,  joined  general  Wayne  the  21st  September, 
immediately  after  Grey's  sanguinary  night  attack  on 
the  Americans  at  the  Paoli. 

'Those  companies  in  which  many  citizens  who  left 
numerous  families  dispersed  about  the  country,  or 
exposed  to  the  depredations  of  the  maritime  forces  of 
the  enemy  in  the  bay,  went  in  the  ranks  volunteers, 
shared  in  the  route  of  Wayne  and  in  the  more  equal 
conflict  at  Germantown,  4th  of  October,  at  which 
place  the  patriotic  Cox,  with  several  of  his  towns- 
men, laid  down  their  lives  in  their  country's  cause. 

'At  the  same  time  colonel  Smith  commanding  a 
small  detachment  of  continental  troops  at  fort  Mifflin, 
with  the  aid  of  commodore  Hazlewood's  flotilla,  in 
which  lieutenant  Barney  then  served,  was  successfully 
opposing  the  passage  of  Howe's  fleet,  which  had 
returned  from  the  Chesapeake  into  Delaware,  for  which 
congress  voted  the  colonel  a  sword.' 

'The  gloom  occasioned  by  the  passage  of  the  fleet 
to   Philadelphia  was  soon   reversed,   and   confidence 


188  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

generally  and  forever  restored,  by  the  news  which 
arrived  here  on  the  21st  October,  of  the  success  of 
general  Gates  at  Saratoga,  and  the  surrender  of  gene- 
ral Burgoyne  and  his  whole  army  four  days  before.' 
^rerjc,  *Early  in  1778,  Count  Pulaski's  legion  of 
cavalry  and  infantry,  raised  partly  in  this  State, 
was  organized  here.  The  corps  suifered  severely  in 
Jersey  in  the  same  year,  and  the  next  lost  their  gallant 
commander  in  Georgia.* 

'On  the  28tli  of  June,  the  British  were  unsuccess- 
fully attacked,  but  finally  retired  from  the  fields  of 
Monmouth,  in  Jersey,  where  the  Maryland  line  shared 
the  danger  and  the  glory  of  the  day.' 

'Annapolis,  July  9,  1779. 
.  „_Q        'Extract  of  a  letter  from  commodore  Grason, 
on  board  the  Chester  galley,  to  his  excellency, 
our  governor. 

'On  Monday  morning  (the  28th  of  June,)  we 
weighed  and  stood  out  to  sea,  at  8  o'clock  saw  a 
ship  and  a  schooner  standing  in  for  Cape  Henry,  and 
immediately  gave  them  chase,  till  within  about  two 
leagues  of  them,  they  then  tacked  and  stood  towards 
us,  which  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  getting  nearer 
the  Cape,  and  in  shoal  water,  when  we  were  about 
three  leagues  from  Cape  Charles,  and  four  miles  from 

•  At  the  attack  on  Savannah,  'while  penetrating  the  works  at  the 
head  of  about  two  hundred  horse,  in  order  to  charge  in  the  rear. 
Count  Pulaski  received  a  mortal  wound.' — 4/A  vol.  Marshall's  Life  of 
Washington.  The  brave  Count  Pulaski  died  of  his  wound  on  the  13th 
of  October,  and  his  corpse  was  carried  to  Charlestown,  and  there 
interred  with  great  military  funeral  pomp,  and  with  every  other 
mark  of  respect  that  a  generous  and  grateful  people  could  show  a 
hero,  who  had  sacrificed  his  life  in  defence  of  their  liberties.' — Mary- 
land Gazette,  Nov.  12,  1779. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  189 

the  ship,  it  fell  almost  calm.  I  then  anchored,  hoping 
she  would  have  done  the  same,  but  she  still  kept  under 
way ;  finding  the  tide  driving  her  further  from  us,  as 
soon  as  the  crew  had  dined,  which  was  half  past  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  we  weighed  and  rowed  down 
to  her;  at  four  we  fired  a  shot,  which  she  returned 
with  a  broadside;  in  about  ten  minutes  the  action 
became  general,  and  continued  without  intermission 
till  after  sun-set,  when  the  wind  sprung  fresh  up 
southerly,  she  then  made  all  the  sail  in  her  power, 
and  stood  to  sea,  we  continued  the  chase  till  near  ten 
o'clock,  at  which  time  she  was  quite  out  of  gun-shot ; 
we  then  hauled  in  for  the  land.  She  was  quite  a 
clean  ship,  just  out  of  port,  mounted  with  18  four  and 
six  pounders,  and  two  stern  chasers  on  one  deck,  four 
carriage  guns  and  several  swivels  on  the  quarter  deck 
and  forecastle.  I  have  the  greatest  pleasure  in  assur- 
ing your  excellency,  that  the  officers  and  men  behaved 
with  great  conduct  and  bravery,  and  that  we  had  not 
one  man  killed  or  wounded,  except  captain  Dashiell, 
who  received  a  slight  wound  on  his  hip-bone  by  a 
cannon-ball. ' 

Q  The   winter  of  1780,   was  one  of  unusual 

severity,  the  Chesapeake  bay  was  frozen  from 
its  head  to  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac.  For  many 
days  together  persons  travelled  from  Annapolis  to 
Poplar  Island,  Rock  Hall,  and  Baltimore,  on  the  ice,* 
and  crossed  to  and  from  Kent  Island  in  carts  rfhd 
carriages,  a  distance  of  seven  miles  across  ;  the  ice 
was  six  or  seven  inches  thick.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
one  of  the  coldest  winters  ever  known  in  our  climate. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  of  this  year,  the  tidings 
of  Baron  de  Kalb's  death  reached  Annapolis,  he  having 


190  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

died  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  near  Camden, 
South  Carolina.  His  death  was  much  regretted  by 
the  citizens,  to  whom  he  had  greatly  endeared  himself 
by  his  manly  virtues,  and  patriotic  bearing,  while  he 
sojourned  in  this  city.  And  such  was  the  esteem  in 
which  this  veteran,  the  hero  and  patriot  of  the  two 
Hemispheres,  was  held  by  the  American  congress, 
that  soon  after  his  death  was  known,  in  the  fullness  of 
their  gratitude  and  deep  sense  of  his  eminent  services 
in  the  cause  of  American  liberty,  passed  the  following 
resolution : 

'In  Congress,  October,  1780. 
'Resolved,  That  a  monument  be  erected  to  the  me- 
mory of  the  late  major-general,  the  Baron  de  Kalb,  in 
the  city  of  Annapolis,  in  the  State  of  Maryland,'  with 
th^  following  inscription: 

'Sacred  to  the   memory  of 

The  Baron  De  Kalb, 

Knight  of  the  royal  order  of  military  merit, 

Brigadier  of  the  armies  of  France, 

and 

Major-general  in  the  service  of  the  United  States 

of  America. 

Having  served  with  honour  and  reputation  for 

three  years, 

He  gave  a  last  and  glorious  proof  of  his 

f  attachment  to  the  liberties  of  mankind, 

and  the  cause  of  America, 

In  the  action  near  Camden,  in  the  State  of 

South  Carolina, 

on  the  16th  August,  1780 ; 

Where,  leading  on  the  troops  of  the  Marylan*d  and 

Delaware  lines,  against  superior  numbers, 

and  animating  there  by  his  example  to  deeds 

of  valour, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  191 

He  was  pierced  with  many  wounds,  and 
on  the  19th  following  expired,  in  the  48th  year 

of  his  age. 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America, 

in  gratitude  to  his  zeal,  services  and  merit, 

have  erected  this  monument.' 

Thus  it  seems  that  congress,  impelled  by  a  patriotic 
and  laudable  spirit  of  gratitude  and  justice  to  the  me- 
mory of  this  great  man,  passed  the  above  resolve,  and 
doubtless  in  good  faith  to  have  this  mark  of  their 
sense  of  De  Kalb's  merit  carried  into  execution.  But 
why  it  may  be  inquired,  has  this  monument  to  heroic 
worth'  never  been  erected  ?  Has  congress  determined 
by  this  delay  to  sanction  the  stigma,  which  has  often 
been  cast  upon  the  gratitude  of  republics'?  Sixty 
years  have  elapsed,  and  yet  the  congress  of  a  great 
and  free  nation  neglects  to  redeem  its  plighted  faith  to 
the  ashes  of  the  departed  patriot ! ! 

It  is  ardently  to  'be  hoped  that  some  gallant  son 
of  the  patriots  of  '76,  will  urge,  and  successfully  urge, 
the  speedy  execution  of  this  righteous  and  just  resolve 
of  an  American  congress. 

Annapolis,  of  all  others,  is  the  place  where  this 
monument  should  be  erected,  as  then  wisely  deter- 
mined by  congress.  The  immortal  De  Kalb  com- 
manded the  'glorious  old  Maryland  line,'  he  was  well 
known  and  loved  here,  and  to  this  day  his  memory 
is  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  many  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  'ancient  city,'  whose  ancestors  saw,  conversed 
with,  and  blessed  him. 

Extracts  from  letters,  relating  to  the  battle  of  Cam- 
den, South  Carolina. 


192  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

'Baltimore,  August  29;A,  1780. 
*0n  the  16th  inst.,  at  two  o'clock,  a.  m.,  a  bloody 
battle  was  fought  between  his  excellency,  general 
Gates,  at  the  head  of  about  3000  men,  900  of  whom 
were  regulars,  and  the  British  forces  under  the  com- 
mand of  earl  Cornwallis,  consisting  of  1800  regulars, 
and  2400  refugees.  The  contending  armies  engaged 
each  other  with  the  greatest  fury,  and  the  prospect  for 
some  time  was  extremely  favourable  to  the  American 
troops,  who  charged  bayonets  on  the  enemy,  which 
obliged  them  to  give  ground,  and  leave  some  of  their 
artillery  in  the  possession  of  our  advancing  troop.' 

'Williamsburg,  September  2. 
'Since  my  last,  advice  is  received  from  general 
Gates,  very  few  of  Sumpter's  party  have  suflfered, 
our  greatest  loss  is  the  baggage  and  stores.  Eter- 
nal honour  is  due  to  the  Maryland  and  Delaware  bri- 
gades, they  killed  and  wounded  upwards  of  500  of 
the  enemy,  and  made  their  retreat  good.  De  Kalb 
is  mortally  wounded.* 

•  The  Baron  de  Ealb,  while  making  a  vigorous  charge  at  the  head 
of  a  regiment  of  infantry,  fell  under  eleven  wounds.  His  aid-de- 
camp, lieutenant-colonel  DuBuysson,  embraced  him,  announced  his 
rank  and  nation  to  the  surrounding  foe,  and  begged  that  they  would 
spare  his  life.  While  he  thus  generously  exposed  himself  to  save 
his  friend,  he  received  several  dangerous  wounds,  and  with  his 
general,  was  taken  prisoner.  Although  he  received  every  attention 
and  assistance  it  was  in  the  power  of  the  conquerors  to  bestow,  the 
Baron  expired  in  a  few  hours.  He  spent  his  last  breath  in  dictating 
a  letter  expressive  of  the  warmest  affection  for  the  officers  and  men 
of  his  division ;  of  the  great  satisfaction  he  derived  from  the  testi- 
mony given  by  the  British  of  the  bravery  of  his  troops;  of  his  own 
admiration  of  the  firm  opposition  they  had  made  to  a  superior  force, 
after  being  deserted  by  the  rest  of  the  army  ;  of  the  infinite  plea- 
sure he  received  from  the  gallant  behaviour  of  the  Delaware  regiment, 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  ]93 

'The  second  Maryland  brigade,  which  was  on  the 
right,  was  the  last  engaged  ;  the  efforts  of  those  troops 
to  recover  the  day  was  heroically  brave.' 
^_Q  On   the   17th   of  January,   was   fought  the 

battle  of  the  Cowpens,  in  which  the  Maryland 
troops  were  again  distinguished.  Chief  Justice  Mar- 
shall in  his  life  of  Gen.  Washington,  in  giving  the  de- 
tails of  this  battle — says,  'believing  the  fate  of  the  day 
to  be  decided,  the  British  pressed  on  with  increased 
ardor,  and  in  some  disorder;  and  when  the  Ameri- 
cans halted,  were  within  thirty  yards  of  them.  The 
orders,  then  given  by  Col.  Howard  to  face  the  enemy, 
were  executed  as  soon  as  they  were  received  ;  and  the 
whole  line  poured  in  upon  them  a  fire  as  deadly  as  it 
was  unexpected.  Perceiving  the  confusion  occasioned 
by  this  sudden  fire,  Howard  seized  the  critical  mo- 
ment, and  ordered  his  regiment  to  charge  them  with 
the  bayonet.  These  orders  were  instantly  obeyed,  and 
the  British  line  was  broken.'  'The  British  were  driven 
from  the  ground  with  considerable  slaughter,  and  were 
closely  pursued.  Both  Howard  and  Washington  press- 
ed the  advantage  they  had  respectively  gained,  until 
the  artillery  and  a  great  part  of  the  infantry  had  sur- 
rendered.' 

'This  complete  and  decisive  victory  cost  the  Ame- 
ricans in  killed  and  wounded,  less  than  eighty  men.' 

'Seldom  has  a  battle  in  which  greater  numbers  were 

and  the  companies  of  the  artillery  attached  to  his  brigades,  and  of  the 
endearing  sense  he  entertained  of  the  merit  of  the  whole  division 
he  commanded.  Congress  afterwards  directed  a  monument  to  be 
erected  to  his  memory,  with  an  inscription,  testifying  their  sense  of 
his  worth  and  gratitude  for  his  services.'— 4iA  vol.  Marshall's  Life  of 
Wathingion. 

17 


194  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

not  engaged,  been  so  important  in  its  consequences 
&s  that  of  the  Cowpens.  By  it,  Lord  Cornvvallis  was 
not  only  deprived  of  a  fifth  of  his  numbers,  but  lost, 
so  far  as  respected  infantry,  that  active  part  of  his 
army,  which,  in  the  species  of  war  about  to  be  entered 
on,  is  most  useful  to  those  who  possess  it,  and  most 
terrible  to  an  enemy.  Had  the  issue  of  the  engage- 
ment been  such  as  was  to  have  been  expected  from 
the  relative  strength  of  the  two  detachments,  and  Mor- 
gan's corps,  like  that  of  Buford,  been  cut  to  pieces, 
it  is  impossible  to  say  what  consequences  would  have 
resulted  to  the  southern  States.'* 

In  March  ot  this  year  Annapolis  was  blockaded  by 
two  British  sloops-of-war,  the  'i/bpe'  and  ^Monk' — 
which  for  a  time  prevented  the  French  troops  from 
proceeding  to  the  Head  of  Elk.  Marquis  de  La- 
fayette, who  commanded  these  troops — and  who  was 
then  at  Annapolis,  raised  the  blockade  by  a  manceuvre, 
which  would  have  done  credit  to  a  practical  cruiser : 
and  which  is  mentioned  in  a  letter  written  imme- 
diately after  his  arrival  at  the  Head  of  Elk,  to  general 
Washington.! 

*  Fourth  vol.  MdrshalVs  Life  of  Washington^ 

'Head  of  Elk,  April  8,  1781. 
t  Extract. — 'On  my  arrival  at  Annapolis,  I  found  that  our  prepara* 
tions  were  far  from  promising  a  speedy  departure.  The  difRculty  ol 
getting  wagons  and  horses,  is  immense.  There  are  not  boats  suffi- 
cient to  cross  over  the  ferries.  The  state  were  very  desirous  of 
keeping  us  as  long  as  possible,  as  they  were  scared  by  the  apparition 
of  the  Hope  of  twenty  guns,  and  the  M<mk  of  eighteen  guns — which 
blockaded  the  harbour,  and  which  as  appears  from  intercepted  letters, 
were  determined  to  oppose  our  movements.  In  these  circumstances^ 
I  thought  it  better  to  continue  my  preparations  for  a  journey  by  land, 
^vhich,  I  am  told,  would  have  lasted  ten  days  on  account  of  ferric*; 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  195 

On  the  18th  of  July,  1781 — at  a  meeting  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Annapolis — Charles  Wallace,  Esq.  in  the  chair, 
and  George  Ranken,  clerk,  was  taken  into  considera- 
tion 'the  late  Jaw  of  the  general  assembly,  for  the 
emission  of  two  hundred  thousand  pounds,  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  present  campaign ;  and  the  sub- 
scription and  association  recommended  by  the  legis- 
lature, to  support  the  credit  and  value  of  the  said 
emission' — it  was  among  other  things,  resolved  by 
the  said  meeting — 'that  as  sufficient  means  could  not 
be  raised  to  carry  on  the  war  by  taxes — that  the  emit- 
ting of  bills  of  credit  was  necessary,  and  deemed  it 
to  be  the  duty,  and  real  interest  of  every  citizen  of  the 
State — who  was  determined  to  prosecute  the  war  in 
defence  of  his  property  and  liberty,  to  exert  every 
effort  to  support  the  value  of  the  said  bills  of  credit, 
at  par  with  gold  and  silver — and  that  every  man  ought 
to  associate  to  receive  the  said  bills  at  par, 

James  Brice,  Jeremiah  T.  Chase,  Allen  Quynn, 
Frederick  Green,  Nicholas  Maccubbin,  jr.  Samuel  H. 
Howard,  and  Thomas  Harwood,  Esquires,  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee,  to  attend  to  the  conduct  of  asso- 
ciators,  and  to  see  that  none  of  them  violated  their 
faith  and  honour,  by  wilfully  depreciating  the  said  bills 
of  credit — and  that  they  should  publish  the  name  of 
any  such  offender,  who  should  be  deemed  infamous,  and 

and,  in  the  meantime,  I  had  two  eighteen  pounders  put  on  board  a 
small  sloop,  which  appeared  ridiculous  to  some,  but  proved  to  be  of 
great  service. 

'On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  commodore  Nicholson  went  out  with 
the  sloop,  and  another  vessel  full  of  men.  Whether  the  sound  of 
eighteen  pounders,  or  the  fear  of  being  boarded,  operated  upon  the 
enemy,  I  am  not  able  to  say ;  but,  after  some  manoeuvres,  they  re- 
treated so  far  as  to  render  it  prudent  for  us  to  sail  for  this  place.' 


im 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 


that  to  deal  or  associate  thereafter  with  such  an  one, 
should  be  considered  as  dishonourable.  That  the 
credit  of  the  paper  money  depended  solely  on  public 
opinion,  and  must  receive  its  value  from  the  associa- 
tion of  the  principal  merchants  and  inhabitants  of  Bal- 
timore town,  and  the  principal  farmers  in  the  several 
counties — all  of  whom  were  earnestly  recommended 
to  receive  it  at  par,  with  specie. 

In  August,  1781 — we  are  told,  that  two  thousand 
three  hundred  militia,  were  assembled  at  Annapolis, 
on  one  day's  notice,  from  Baltimore  town,  and  its 
vicinity — when  an  attack  was  apprehended  from  the 
British  fleet  which  had  entered  the  bay,  but  which 
passed  up  York  river,  and  landed  their  troops  at  Glou- 
cester and  York. 

This  fact,  which  evinces  the  ardor  that  prevailed 
amongst  our  miUtia  of  that  day,  is  deemed  too  credit- 
able to  their  patriotic  spirit,  to  be  passed,  unnoticed. 

On  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  the  third  Maryland 
regiment,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.  Peter  Adams, 
marched  from  this  city  to  join  the  southern  army. 
This  regiment  was  raised  here — and  is  said  to  have 
had  'all  the  appearance  of  a  veteran  corps' — they  were 
^enlisted  for  three  years,  and  were  well  equipped  for 
the  field.  The  mutual-  good  offices  which  had  been 
exchanged  between  the  citizens,  and  officers  of  this 
regiment  while  here,  rendered  their  departure  a  cause 
■of  much  regret.  The  ardor  that  pervaded  their  ranks, 
on  the  prospect  of  taking  the  field,  and  their  military 
appearance,  inspired  every  beholder  with  a  pleasing 
.confidence,  that  they  would  render  essential  services, 
and  be  an  honour  to  their  country ;  nor  did  they  disap-^ 
point  these  expectations — as  it  is  w^ell  known  that  the 


1» 
V 

*  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  197 

Maryland  troops  discharged  their  duty  both  in  the 
camp,  and  on  the  battle  field  ;  and  exhibited  examples 
of  intrepidity  and  military  perfection,  seldom  equalled 
by  the  oldest  troops. 

The  recruiting  service  then  carried  on  at  this  place, 
was  under  the  direction  of  major-general  Smallwood, 
whose  distinguished  services  in  the  field,  were  only 
equalled  by  his  unremitted  attention  to  this  important 
branch  of  the  service. 

On  the  7th  of  September  in  the  same  year,  the  4th 
Maryland  regiment,  commanded  by  major  Alexander 
Roxburgh,  marched  from  this  city  to  join  the  Marquis 
de  La  Fayette.  This  regiment  had  its  full  comple- 
ment, consisting  of  upwards  of  six  hundred  rank  and 
file.  When  we  consider  the  short  time  in  which  the  two 
regiments  above  mentioned  were  raised,  it  affords  ad- 
ditional testimony  of  the  zeal  and  ability  with  which 
Maryland  aided  in  prosecuting  the  war,  and  establish- 
ing our  independence. 

On  the  12th  of  September,  a  fleet  of  transports 
arrived  here,  from  the  Head  of  Elk,  having  on  board 
the  artillery,  grenadiers,  and  light  troops  of  the  allied 
army,  on  their  route  to  James'  river.  And  on  the  I8th, 
about  four  thousand  French  troops,  with  a  train  of 
artillery,  marched  into  the  city  from  the  northward,  on 
their  way  to  Virginia. 

At  this  time  there  were  anchored  off  the  mouth  of 
our  harbour,  the  *Romulus,'  'Gentile,'  and  several 
other  frigates  belonging  to  America's  illustrious  ally. 
This  must  have  been  a  spirit-stirring  scene  to  our  little 
city — and  made  all  hearts  feel  confident  in  the  success 
of  the  common  cause. 

On  the  8th  pf  Septeeaber  ir^  Xh\&  year,  was  fought 
U* 


.4 
1&8  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  ^' 

the  battle  of  Eutaw — where  the  troops  of  Maryland, 
commanded  by  the  'hero  of  the  Cowpens/  again  dis- 
tinguished themselves. 

Extract  of  a  letter,  dated 
*Camp,  at  Trout  Springs^  September  12th,  1781. 

'The  battle  of  Eutaw,  which  was  fought  the  8th 
instant,  happened  upon  the  same  ground,  on  which 
according  to  the  tradition  of  this  country,  a  memo- 
rable battle  was  fought  above  a  century  past,  between 
a  body  of  speculating  Europeans,  and  the  natives  of 
the  soil.  In  the  first  we  are  told,  -six  hundred  men 
fell,  and  we  find  an  Indian  mound  erected  as  a  monu- 
ment to  perpetuate  their  glory.  In  the  second,  double 
that  number  were  killed  and  wounded ;  but  whether 
this  christian  nation  will  give  such  an  honourable  testi- 
mony of  the  great  worth  of  those  who  now  sleep  in 
the  bed  of  honour,  is  a  matter  not  to  be  expected. 
Our  victory  was  complete,  though  the  fate  of  the  day 
mingled  sorrows  in  the  triumph.  I  will  enclose  you  a 
list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Maryland  bri- 
gade, &c.  which  will  give  you  a  tolerable  idea  of  the 
importance  of  the  action. 

'General  Greene,  who  is  one  of  the  bravest  and  best 
soldiers  himself,  is  highly  satisfied  with  the  behaviour 
of  the  troops  in  general,  but  particularly  with  our  bri- 
gade ;  he  saw  them  make  a  charge  with  trailed  arms 
through  the  hottest  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  was  so 
delighted  with  their  firmness  and  vivacity,  that  he  rode 
up  to  me,  and  complimented  them  in  the  field.  He 
has  also  done  it  in  general  orders,  and  made  the  Vir- 
ginians a  compliment  in  the  same  style.  They  behaved 
with  equal  courage, 

'If  any  former  misconduct  or  accident  in  war  had 


'  ^  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  199 

left  a  stain  upon  the  Maryland  troops,  their  exemplary 
conduct  upon  this  occasion  should  obliterate  it  forever. 
Around  the  monument  which  I  mentioned,  four  of  our 
excellent  officers  and  many  of  our  brave  brother  sol- 
diers fell.  Let  them  rest  in  that  ancient  bed  of  ho- 
nour. May  their  virtues  only  be  remembered,  and 
their  spirits  enjoy  eternal  glory.' 

^Officers  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Maryland  bri- 
gade. 

'Captains  Dobson  and  Edgerly,  and  lieutenants  Du- 
vall  and  Gold,  killed.  Lieutenant-colonel  Howard, 
wounded  in  the  shoulder ;  Captain  J.  Gibson,  in  the 
arm ;  Lieutenant  Hugon,  in  the  groin ;  Lieutenant 
Woolford,  thigh  broke ;  Lieutenant  Ewing,  danger- 
ously in  the  body ;  Lieutenant  Lynn,  leg  broke ;  En- 
sign Moor,  thumb  shot  off.' 

General  Greene  thought  himself  principally  indebted 
for  this  victory,  to  the  free  use  made  of  the  bayonet  by 
the  Maryland  and  Virginia  troops. 

The  first  intelligence  of  the  surrender  of  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  was  communicated  by  the  Count  de  Grasse,  in 
a  letter  to  the  governor  of  this  State — and  reached 
Annapolis,  on  Saturday  evening,  the  20th  of  October, 
1781,  by  express — and  which  was  hailed  by  the  joyful 
acclamations  of  the  citizens,  and  firing  of  the  artillery. 
And  on  Monday  afternoon,  a  Jeu  de  joie  was  fired  by 
the  artillery,  and  select  militia,  and  in  the  evening  the 
town  was  brilliantly  illuminated. 


0' 


200  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS, 


CHAPTER   VII. 

General  Washington  arrives  at  Annapolis— Public  Dinner — Ball— 
The  Citizens  address  him — His  Answer — He  leaves  the  City — 
The  Birth  of  a  Dauphin  celebrated  at  Annapolis— Count  Rocham- 
beau  arrives  at  Annapolis — Embarks  for  France — Cessation  of 
Hostilities — Public  Rejoicing — Public  Dinner — Toasts  on  the  Oc- 
casion— State-House  Illuminated — Ball — Peace — General  Greene 
arrives  at  Annapolis — Corporate  Authorities  of  the  City  address 
him — General  Greene's  Reply — The  Society  of  Cincinnatti  for  the 
State  of  Maryland  formed  in  Annapolis — Officers  of  the  Maryland 
Line — Congress  in  Session  at  Annapolis — General  Washington  ar- 
rives there— Is  entertained  by  the  Citizens — Corporate  Authorities 
address  him — His  Reply — General  Washington  resigns  his  Com- 
mission into  the  hands  of  the  Congress — Proceedings  of  Con- 
gress thereon — General  Washington  again  visits  Annapolis  accom- 
panied by  General  Lafayette — They  are  entertained  by  the  Genei-al 
Assembly — General  Lafayette — Addressed  by  the  Governor  and 
Council,  and  by  the  Legislature — His  Answers — The  General  As- 
sembly naturalizes  General  Lafayette — St.  John's  College — The 
President  of  the  United  States  arrives  at  Annapolis — His  Recep- 
tion— Annapolis — Baltimore — Citizens  of  Annapolis  address  the 
President  of  the  United  States— The  President's  Reply — Defence 
of  Annapolis — Tribute  to  the  Memory  of  Washington— General 
Tureau,  arrives  at  Annapolis — His  Reception — William  Pinkney 
arrives  at  Annapolis — His  Reception — Public  Dinner — Officers  and 
Crew  of  the  Frigate  Philadelphia — Meeting  of  the  Citizens  of 
Annapolis — Frigate  Chesapeake — Proceedings  of  the  Citizens — 
Piracy  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay — Pirates  Captured — Conclusion. 

On  Wednesday,  the  21st  of  November,  1781,  gene- 
ral Washington  arrived  in  this  city,  on  his  way  to  the 
northward.  'When  the  citizens  received  the  plea- 
sing information  of  his  excellency's  arrival,  all  business 
ceased,  and  every  consideration  gave  way  to  their  im- 
patience to  behold  their  benefactor,  and  the  deliverer  of 
his  country.  On  his  appearance  in  the  streets,  people 
of  every  rank  and  every  age  eagerly  pressed  forward 
to  feed  their  eyes  with  gazing  on  the  man,  to  whom, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  201 

under  Providence,  and  the  generous  aid  of  oar  great 
and  good  ally,  they  owed  their  security,  and  hopes  of 
future  liberty  and  peace  ;  the  courteous  affability,  with 
which  he  returned  their  salutes,  lighted  up  ineffable 
joy  in  every  countenance,  and  diffused  the  most  ani- 
mated gratitude  through  every  breast.' 

*You  would  have  thought  the  very  windows  spoke. 
So  many  greedy  looks  of  young  and  old  through  ease- 
ments darted  their  desiring  eyes  upon  his  visage ;  and 
that  all  the  walls,  with  painted  imagery,  had  said  at 
once,  'God  save  thee,  Washington.' 

'The  general's  arrival  was  announced  by  the  dis- 
charge of"  cannon,  and  he  was  accompanied  to  his 
excellency  the  governor's,  by  the  honest  acclamations 
of  the  whigs  ;  a  few  tories,  to  expiate  their  crimes,  and 
shuffle  off  the  opprobium  of  their  characters,  feebly 
joined  in  applauding  the  man  whose  successes  had 
annihilated  their  hopes,  and  whose  conduct  was  a 
satire  on  their  principles.  The  president  of  the  se- 
nate, speaker  of  the  house  of  delegates,  members  of 
the  general  assembly  and  council,  and  many  of  the 
citizens,  hastened  to  offer  their  tribute  of  affection, 
which  was  richly  repaid  by  the  engaging  frankness 
and  affectionate  politeness  of  the  reception.  The 
evening  was  spent  at  the  governor's  elegant  and  hos- 
pitable board  with  festive  joy,  enlivened  by  good-hu- 
mour, wit,  and  beauty,' 

'On  the  next  day  the  general  partook  of  a  public 
dinner  given  by  the  legislature,  as  a  mark  of  their 
respect,  and  to  render  the  participation  of  his  company 
as  general  as  possible.  In  the  evening  the  city  was 
beautifully  illuminated,  and  an  assembly  prepared  for 
the  ladies,  to  afford  them  an  opportunity  of  beholding 


202  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

their  friend,  and  thanking  their  protector  with  their 
smiles.' 

'His  excellency,  to  gratify  the  wishes  of  the  fair, 
crowned  the  entertainment  with  his  presence,  and 
with  graceful  dignity  and  familiar  ease  so  framed  his 
looks,  his  gestures,  and  his  words,  that  every  heart 
overflowed  with  gratitude  and  love,  and  every  tongue 
grew  eloquent  in  his  praise.  When  he  retired  from 
the  assembly — with  one  united  voice,  all  present  ex- 
claimed : 

I  'Unrivalled  and  unmatched  shall  be  his  fame, 

And  his  own  laurels  shade  his  envied  name.' 

The  day  on  which  general  Washington  reached 
Annapolis,  the  following  address  was  presented  by  the 
citizens : 

*  To  his  Excellency  General  Washington : 

'The  citizens  of  Annapolis  feel  themselves  happy  in 
having  an  opportunity,  personally,  to  express  their 
affection  for,  and  gratitude  to,  your  excellency.  Your 
private  character  forces  admiration  from  the  foes  of 
virtue  and  freedom. 

'We  derive  peculiar  pleasure  from  the  contemplation, 
that  the  successes  at  Trenton  and  Princetown  laid  the 
corner  stone  of  our  freedom  and  independence,  and  that 
the  capture  of  Earl  Cornwallis  and  his  army  has  com- 
pleted the  edifice,  and  secured  the  temple  of  liberty  to 
us  and  our  posterity.  These  brilliant  and  important 
events  are  the  more  agreeable  to  every  American,  from 
the  reflection  that  they  were  planned  by,  and  executed 
under,  the  immediate  command  of  your  excellency. 

'The  love  of  your  country  alone,  which  induced  you 
to  accept  the  command  of  our  armies  at  the  expense 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  203 

of  domestic  happiness ;  the  persevering  fortitude  and 
equanimity  of  soul  you  have  displayed  on  every  occa- 
sion, and  the  very  important  services  rendered  Ame- 
rica, justify  us  in  saluting  you  as  the  patriot,  the  hero, 
and  the  saviour  of  your  country. 

'Our  prayers,  with  those  of  millions,  are  daily  offered 
up  to  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  Universe,  for  your 
health,  safety  and  happiness. 

(Signed,)  John  Bullen,  Mayor. 

'Annapolis,  JVovember  21,  1781.' 

To  which  address  general  Washington  made  the 
following  reply : 

^Sifj — I  am  obliged  by  the  polite  and  affectionate 
address  of  the  citizens  of  Annapolis.  Nothing  can  be 
more  flattering  to  me  than  to  know,  that  my  general 
conduct  has  met  the  approbation  of  my  countrymen : 
it  is  the  most  grateful  reward  for  those  services  which 
I  have  ever,  in  the  course  of  my  command,  endea- 
voured to  render  them,  but  which  their  too  great  par- 
tiality has  oftentimes  over-rated.  That  the  State  in 
general,  and  this  city  in  particular,  may  long  enjoy  the 
benefits  which  they  have  a  right  to  expect  from  their 
very  spirited  exertions  in  the  prosecution  of  this  just 
war,  is  the  sincere  wish  of, 

'Sir,  your  most  obedient  and 

'Very  humble  servant, 

'G.  Washington. 
*The  Worshipful  John  Bullen,  Esq., 

'Mayor  of  the  City  of  Annapolis, 
'Annapolis,  Jfovemher  21,  1781.' 

By  this  visit  Annapolis  had  an  early  opportunity  of 
manifesting  the  gratitude  and  love  which  pervaded 


S04  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

€very  American  bosom,  to  the  father  of  his  country, 
and  the  honour  of  making  one  of  the  first  public  ad- 
dres^s  after  the  crowning  act  of  all  his  other  suc- 
cesses during  the  Revolutionary  war.  For  the  reader 
will  observe,  it  was  presented  but  a  short  time  after 
ifee  "Capitulation  at  Yorktown. 

On  Friday  the  23d,  general  Washington  left  the 
«ity,  attended  by  the  prayers  of  her  citizens  for  his 
health,  safety  and  happiness. 

On  Tuesday,  the  25th  of  June,  the  birth  of  a  Dau- 
phirif  was  celebrated  here — a  public  dinner  was  given 
in  the  state-house,  to  a  numerous  and  most  respecta- 
ble assembly,  where  many  toasts  were  drunk,  suitable 
to  the  occasion.  Five  hundred  discharges  of  cannon 
"were  fired  through  the  day ;  and  at  night  a  splendid 
ball  was  given  to  'the  fairer  part  of  creation.' 
_Q_  On  th&4th  of  January,  1783,  his  excellency, 
general  count  Rochambeau,  with  his  suite,  ar- 
rived in  this  city,  and  the  next  morning  embarked  on 
board  his  most  christian  majesty's  frigate  'Le  Emer- 
aude,'  for  France. 

Official  intelligence  being  received  by  his  excellency 
the  governor,  of  a  general  cessation  of  hostilities — 
Thursday,  the  24th  of  April,  in  this  year,  was  ap- 
pointed as  the  day  of  public  rejoicing.  And  on  which 
6ccasion,  a  convenient  and  extensive  building  was 
erected  on  Carroll's  Green,  sufficient  for  the  accom- 
modation of  many  hundreds.  Thirteen  pieces  of  artil- 
lery were  planted,  and  an  elegant  dinner  provided. 

The  proclamation  being  read — thirteen  cannon  were 
discharged,  to  announce  the  glorious  and  memorable 
event.  The  gentlemen  then  repaired  to  dinner,  at 
wjiich  were  present,  'his  excellency  the  governor,  the 


ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS.  205 

honourable  council,  members  of  the  senate  and  dele- 
gates of  the  assembly,  and  a  large  number  of  gentle- 
men, both  of  town  and  country ;  who  with  unfeigned 
l^satisfaction  congratulated  each  other  on  the  blessings 
of  peace — the  rising  glory  of  their  country — the  pros- 
pects of  her  commerce — her  future  grandeur,  and  im- 
portance in  the  scale  of  nations.' 

'After  dinner  the  following  truly  liberal,  generous, 
and  patriotic  toasts  were  drunk,  each  attended  with 
thirteen  cannon : 

1.  The  third  of  February,  1783 — in  perpetual  me- 
mory, on  which  day  a  virtuous  war  was  concluded  by 
an  honourable  peace. 

2.  The  United  States — may  their  confederacy  en- 
dure forever. 

3.  Friendship  with  France — may  every  nation  imi- 
tate the  depth  and  moderation  of  her  policy,  by  which 
the  freedom  of  navigation  has  been  secured,  the  liberty 
of  these  States  confirmed,  and  the  blessings  of  peace 
and  commerce  diffused  throughout  the  globe. 

4.  His  excellency  General  Washington. 

5.  The  generals,  oflScers  and  soldiers  of  our  army — 
may  their  services  be  remembered,  and  generously 
rewarded  by  a  grateful  people. 

6.  The  French  generals,  oflEicers  and  troops,  who 
served  in  America. 

7.  The  Marquis  of  Fayette-*may  our  posterity  ever 
retain  a  grateful  sense  of  his  strong  attachment  to  this 
country,  and  of  the  important  services  rendered  it  in 
the  field  and  cabinet. 

8.  The  immortal  memory  of  the  gallant  soldiers  and 
virtuous  citizens  who  gloriously  fell  in  the  late  war. 

9.  The  patriots  of  America — honour  crowns  their 

18 


206  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

labours;  may  future  ages  revere  their  memory,  and 
emulate  their  fame. 

10.  The  United  Netherlands,  and  the  friendly  powers 
in  Europe. 

11.  May  the  influence  of  the  present  revolution  be 
extended  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  by  introducing 
among  them  that  spirit  of  humanity,  and  religious 
toleration,  which  has  so  peculiarly  distinguished  this 
country,  and  united  the  efforts  of  all  denominations  of 
christians  in  the  support  of  freedom. 

12.  The  Commissioners  of  the  United  States  at  Paris. 

13.  The  State  of  Maryland — may  she  ever  support 
religion,  learning,  and  virtue ;  preserve  justice,  public 
faith,  and  honour ;  give  every  encouragement  and  at- 
tention to  agriculture  and  commerce ;  and  on  all  occa- 
sions maintain  with  dignity  her  national  character.' 

At  night  the  state-house,  a  superb  building,  was 
beautifully  and  magnificently  illuminated ;  and  an  ele- 
gant entertainment  was  given  to  the  ladies  at  the  ball- 
room, which  concluded  the  evening. 

Thus  Annapolis,  which  had  ever  been  energetic  in 
maintaining  the  war,  was  among  the  first  in  the  Union 
to  hail  with  joy  the  blessings  of  an  honourable  peace. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  (1783,)  major-general 
Greene,  and  his  suite,  arrived  in  the  city,  from  the 
south,  on  his  way  to  the  north. 

The  next  day  the  corporation  met,  and  presented 
him  with  the  following  address : 

*To  the  Hon,  Major- General  Greene: 

'jSjV, — We,  the  mayor,  recorder,  aldermen,  and  com- 
mon council,  of  the  city  of  Annapolis,  impressed  with 
the  most  grateful  feelings  for  the  eminent  services  ren- 
dered these  United  States,  and  the  cause  of  liberty. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  207 

by  the  southern  army  under  your  command,  beg  per- 
mission to  congratulate  you  on  your  arrival  in  this  city, 
and  to  testify,  with  the  sincerest  respect  and  regard, 
the  lively  sense  we  entertain  of  the  invaluable  bless- 
ings secured  to  us,  by  your  conduct  and  unremitted 
assiduity,  in  the  noblest  cause  that  ever  graced  a  sol- 
dier's sword. 

'Justice  would  wear  the  aspect  of  adulation,  were  we 
to  enumerate  the  many  signal  endowments  which  en- 
dear you  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  and  inspire  us 
with  the  warmest  and  most  respectful  gratitude.  They 
are  such  as  will  ever  engage  our  prayers  to  Divine 
Providence,  that  you  may  long  continue  to  possess  the 
affections  of  a  generous  republic ;  to  share  the  sweets 
of  domestic  felicity ;  and  to  experience  the  happy  re- 
ward of  your  distinguished  virtues. 

*This  address  springs  from  the  heart ;  and  we  solicit 
your  acceptance  of  it,  as  the  genuine  sentiments  of  a 
grateful  people. 

^Signed  by  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  corporation. 

'James  Brice,  Mayor. 

'Annapolis,  September  26thj  1783.' 

To  which  his  excellency  returned  the  following 
answer : 

'Annapolis,  September  2'7th,  1783. 

^Gentlemen, — It  is  with  the  highest  satisfaction  I 
receive  your  affectionate  address,  and  feel  my  bosom 
glow  with  gratitude  upon  the  occasion. 

'The  happy  termination  of  the  war  affords  the  most 
pleasing  field  for  contemplation,  and  while  it  promises 
the  richest  harvest  to  the  good  citizens  of  America, 
it  gives  the  sweetest  pleasure,  and  most  desirable  re- 


208  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS. 

pose  to  the  soldier.  If  the  operations  of  the  southern 
army  have  answered  the  expectations  of  the  public, 
or  have  had  any  influence  upon  this  great  event,  I 
shall  consider  it  one  of  the  most  happy  employments 
of  my  life.  And  if  to  this  I  may  venture  to  flatter 
myself,  that  my  conduct  either  merits,  or  meets  in  the 
smallest  degree,  the  approbation  of  the  public,  I  shall 
be  still  more  happy.  The  honour  you  have  done  me, 
and  the  troops  under  my  command,  are  too  sensibly 
felt  to  be  fully  expressed,  or  properly  acknowledged. 

'I  beg  leave  to  return  my  most  sincere  thanks  to  the 
corporation,  for  the  interest  they  take  in  what  concerns 
my  future  happiness,  peace,  and  prosperity. 

*I  have  the  honour  to  be,  gentlemen, 

'Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

*Nath.  Greene. 

'7b  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  Annapolis  J' 

On  the  21st  of  November,  1783,  the  order  of  the 
Society  of  Cincinnati,  for  the  State  of  Maryland,  was 
formed  in  Annapolis,  by  the  officers  of  the  Maryland 
line — who  had  here  assembled  for  that  purpose.  Otho 
H.  Williams  in  the  chair,  and  John  Eccleston,  se- 
cretary. 

The  officers  of  the  order  elected  were,  major-ge- 
neral Smallwood,  president;  brigadier-general  Gist, 
vice-president ;  brigadier-general  Williams,  secretary  ; 
colonel  Ramsey,  treasurer ;  and  lieutenant-colonel.  Ec- 
cleston, assistant  treasurer,  Annapolis  was  the  place 
appointed  for  their  annual  meetings — the  proceedings 
of  the  order  upon  the  occasion  are  to  be  seen  at 
large  in  the  Maryland  Gazette,  of  the  27th  of  No- 
vember, 1783. 

The  congress  of  the  United  States  being  then  in 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  209 

session,  at  the  city  of  Annapolis,  general  Washington 
arrived  there  with  his  suite,  on  Friday,  the  17th  De- 
cember, 1783,  for  the  purpose  of  resigning  his  com- 
mission into  their  hands.  He  was  met  a  few  miles 
from  the  city,  by  generals  Gates  and  Smallwood, 
accompanied  by  several  of  the  principal  inhabitants 
of  the  place,  who  escorted  him  to  Mr.  Mann's  hotel, 
where  apartments  were  prepared  for  his  reception. 
His  arrival  was  announced  by  the  discharge  of  can- 
non. After  receiving  visits  from  many  of  the  citi- 
zens, he  waited  on  the  president  of  congress,  with 
whom  he  and  the  members  of  that  body,  with  the 
principal  military  and  civil  officers  of  the  State,  dined 
on  Saturday. 

On  Sunday  morning,  he  returned  the  visits  of  the 
citizens  and  others  who  had  waited  on  him. 

On  Monday,  congress  gave  general  Washington 
a  public  dinner,  at  the  ball-room,  where  upwards  of 
two  hundred  persons  of  distinction  are  said  to  have 
been  present ;  and  where  every  thing  was  provided  by 
Mr.  Mann,  in  the  most  elegant  and  profuse  style. 

After  dinner  many  toasts  were  drunk,  accompanied 
by  the  discharge  of  cannon. 

At  night  the  state-house  was  illuminated,  where  a 
ball  was  given  by  the  general  assembly,  at  which  a 
very  numerous  and  brilliant  company  of  ladies  was 
present.* 

The  following  address  was  made  to  general  Wash- 
ington, on  this  occasion,  by  the  corporate  authorities 
of  the  city. 

*  On  this  occasion  general  Washington  opened  the  ball  with  Mrs. 
James  Maccubbin,  of  this  city,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  women  of         « 
her  day.  D 

18» 


210  ANNALS    OF   ANNAPOLIS. 

'  To  his  excellency  General  Washington : 

*The  mayor,  recorder,  aldermen,  and  common  coun- 
cil, of  the  city  of  Annapolis,  congratulate  your  excel- 
lency on  the  restoration  of  peace,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  the  freedom  and  independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America.  The  citizens  feel  themselves  par- 
ticularly happy,  in  this  opportunity  afforded  them,  of 
expressing  their  sincere  approbation  of  your  most  dis- 
tinguished and  unexampled  conduct  through  every 
stage  of  the  war,  and  the  high  sense  they  entertain 
of  your  excellent  virtues,  fortitude,  and  unremitting 
perseverance,  under  the  pressure  of  the  greatest  diffi- 
culties. To  you  they  esteem  themselves  principally 
indebted^  under  the  favour  and  smiles  of  Providence, 
for  the  inestimable  blessings  of  peace  and  freedom. 
This  acknowledgment  flows  from  hearts  filled  with 
gratitude,  and  the  most  perfect  respect  and  veneration 
for  your  person  and  character. 

4n  your  retirement  to  the  peaceful  and  pleasing 
scenes  of  domestic  tranquillity,  may  America  long 
experience  the  benign  influence  of  your  example,  and 
benefit  by  the  salutary  suggestions  of  your  wisdom ; 
and  may  you,  sir,  long  enjoy  your  health,  and  the  hea- 
venly sensations  arising  from  a  consciousness  of  hav- 
ing done  every  thing  for  your  country,  and  wrested  her 
from  the  oppressive  hand  of  unrelenting  tyranny,  with- 
out the  hope  of  any  reward,  but  the  approbation  of  a 
free  people. 

'We  are,  with  every  sentiment  of  esteem  and  respect, 

'Your  excellency's  most  obedient  servants. 
.  ^Signed  per  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  corporation. 

'J.  T.  Chase,  Mayor.'* 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  211 

To  "which  address  he  replied  : 

*  To  the  worshipful  the  Mayor ^  Recorder,  Aldermen,  and 
Common  Council  of  the  city  of  Annapolis  : 

*Permit  me,  gentlemen,  to  offer  you  my  sincere 
thanks  for  your  congratulations  on  the  happy  events 
of  peace,  and  the  establishment  of  our  independence. 

'If  my  conduct  throughout  the  war  has  merited  the 
confidence  of  my  fellow-citizens,  and  has  been  instru- 
mental in  obtaining  for  my  country  the  blessings  of 
peace  and  freedom,  I  owe  it  to  that  Supreme  Being, 
who  guides  the  hearts  of  all :  who  has  so  signally 
interposed  his  aid  in  every  stage  of  the  contest,  and 
who  has  graciously  been  pleased  to  bestow  on  me  the 
greatest  of  earthly  rewards — the  approbation  and  affec- 
tions of  a  free  people. 

'Though  I  retire  from  the  employments  of  public 
life,  I  shall  never  cease  to  entertain  the  most  anxious 
care  for  the  welfare  of  my  country.  May  the  Almigh- 
ty dispose  the  heart  of  every  citizen  of  the  United 
States  to  improve  the  great  prospect  of  happiness 
before  us  !  And  may  you,  gentlemen,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  city,  long  enjoy  every  felicity  this  world 
can  afford. 

'G.  Washington. 

'December,  1783.' 

'The  United  States  in  congress  assembled  : 

'December  23,  1783. 

'According  to  order,  his  excellency,  the  commander- 
in-chief,  was  admitted  to  a  public  audience,  and  being 
seated,  the  president,*  after  a  pause,  informed  him, 

'General  Mifflin. 


212  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

that  the  United  States  in  congress  assembled,  were 
prepared  to  receive  his  communications ;  whereupon 
he  arose  and  addressed  congress  as  follows : 

^Mr.  President, — The  great  events  on  which  my 
resignation  depended  having  at  length  taken  place,  I 
have  now  the  honour  of  offering  my  sincere  congratu- 
lations to  congress,  and  of  presenting  myself  before 
them,  to  surrender  into  their  hands  the  trust  committed 
to  me,  and  to  claim  the  indulgence  of  retiring  from  the 
service  of  my  country. 

'Happy  in  the  confirmation  of  our  independence  and 
sovereignty,  and  pleased  with  the  opportunity  offered 
the  United  States  of  becoming  a  respectable  nation,  I 
resign,  with  satisfaction,  the  appointment  I  accepted 
with  diflS^dence:  a  diffidence  in  my  abilities  to  accom- 
plish so  arduous  a  task ;  which,  however,  was  super- 
seded by  a  confidence  in  the  rectitude  of  our  cause, 
the  support  of  the  supreme  power  of  the  Union,  and 
the  patronage  of  Heaven. 

'The  successful  termination  of  the  war  has  verified 
the  most  sanguine  expectations  ;  and  my  gratitude  for 
the  interposition  of  Providence,  and  the  assistance 
I  have  received  from  my  countrymen,  increases  with 
every  review  of  the  momentous  contest. 

'While  I  repeat  my  obligations  to  the  army  in  gene- 
ral, I  should  do  injustice  to  my  own  feelings  not  to 
acknowledge,  in  this  place,  the  peculiar  services,  and 
distinguished  merits  of  the  gentlemen,  who  have  been 
attached  to  my  person  during  the  war.  It  was  impos- 
sible the  choice  of  confidential  officers,  to  compose 
my  family,  should  have  been  more  fortunate.  Permit 
me,  sir,  to  recommend,  in  particular,  those  who  have 
continued  in  the  service  to  the  present  moment,  as 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  213 

worthy  of  the  favourable  notice  and  patronage  of 
congress. 

*I  consider  it  as  an  indispensable  duty  to  close  this 
last  act  of  my  official  life,  by  commending  the  in- 
terests of  our  dearest  country  to  the  protection  of 
Almighty  God,  and  those  who  have  the  superintend- 
ence of  them  to  his  Holy  keeping. 

*Having  now  finished  the  work  assigned  me,  I  retire 
from  the  theatre  of  action,  and  bidding  an  affectionate 
farewell  to  this  august  body,  under  whose  orders  I 
have  so  long  acted,  I  here  offer  my  commission,  and 
take  my  leave  of  all  the  employments  of  public  life.' 

He  then  advanced  and  delivered  to  the  president 
his  commission,  with  a  copy  of  his  address,  and  having 
resumed  his  place,  the  president  returned  him  the  fol- 
lowing answer. 

^Sir, — The  United  States  in  congress  assembled, 
receive  with  emotions  too  affecting  for  utterance,  the 
solemn  resignation  of  the  authorities  under  which  you 
have  led  their  troops  with  success  through  a  perilous 
and  doubtful  war.  Called  by  your  country  to  defend 
its  invaded  rights,  you  accepted  the  sacred  charge, 
before  it  had  formed  alliances,  and  whilst  it  was  with- 
out funds  or  a  government  to  support  you.  You  have 
conducted  the  great  military  contest  with  wisdom  and 
fortitude,  invariably  regarding  the  rights  of  the  civil 
powers  through  all  disasters  and  changes.  You  have, 
by  the  love  and  confidence  of  your  fellow-citizens, 
enabled  them  to  display  their  martial  genius,  and  trans- 
mit their  fame  to  posterity.  You  have  persevered,  till 
these  United  States,  aided  by  a  magnanimous  king 
and  nation,  have  been  enabled,  under  a  just  Provi- 
dence, to  close  the  war  in  freedom,  safety,  and  inde- 


214  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

pendence ;  on  which  happy  event  we  sincerely  join  in 
your  congratulations. 

'Having  defended  the  standard  of  liberty  in  this  new 
world ;  having  taught  a  lesson  useful  to  those  who 
inflict  and  to  those  who  feel  oppression,  you  retire 
from  the  great  theatre  of  action,  with  the  blessings 
of  your  fellow-citizens — but  the  glory  of  your  virtues 
will  not  terminate  with  your  military  command,  it  will 
continue  to  animate  remotest  ages. 

*We  feel  with  you  our  obligations  to  the  army  in 
general,  and  will  particularly  charge  ourselves  with 
the  interests  of  those  confidential  officers,  who  have 
attended  your  person  to  this  affecting  moment. 

'We  join  with  you  in  commending  the  interests  of 
our  dearest  country  to  the  protection  of  Almighty  God, 
beseeching  him  to  dispose  the  hearts  and  minds  of  its 
citizens  to  improve  the  opportunity  afforded  them,  of 
becoming  a  happy  and  respectable  nation.  And  for 
you  we  address  to  him  our  warmest  prayers,  that  a  life 
so  beloved  may  be  fostered  with  all  his  care ;  and  that 
your  days  may  be  happy  as  they  have  been  illustrious ; 
and  that  he  will  finally  give  you  that  reward  which 
this  world  cannot  give.'* 

Mr.  Green,  the  editor  of  the  Maryland  Gazette,  in 
allusion  to  the  resignation  by  general  Washington,  of 
his  commission  to  congress,  says : 

'Here  we  must  let  fall  the  scene — few  tragedies  ever 
drew  more  tears  from  so  many  beautiful  eyes,  as  were 
affected  by  the  moving  manner  in  which  his  excellency 
took  his  final  leave  of  congress.  After  which  he  im- 
mediately set  out  for  Virginia,  acconnpanied  to  South 

♦  Ninth  vol.  Journal  of  Congiess,  pages  12, 13,  14. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  215" 

river,    by    his    excellency  our    governor,*   with    the 
warmest  wishes  of  the  city  for  his  repose,  health  and 
happiness.     Long,  long  may  he  enjoy  them.' 
„^  On  Monday,  the  29th  of  November,  1784, 

general  Washington,  arrived  at  Annapolis,  ac- 
companied by  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette.  On  the  day 
following,  the  general  assembly  of  this  State,  being 
then  in  session,  to  manifest  thei*  gratitude  and  attach- 
ment to  those  distinguished  men,  directed  an  elegant 
ball  to  be  provided  for  their  entertainment.  Mr.  Green 
says,  'the  evening  was  crowned  with  the  utmost  joy 
and  festivity,  the  whole  company  being  made  happy 
by  the  presence  of  two  most  amiable  and  all-accom- 
plished men,  to  whom  America  is  so  deeply  indebted 
for  her  preservation  from  tyranny  and  oppression.' 

The  following  addresses  were  presented  by  the  ex- 
ecutive and  legislative  bodies,  respectively,  to  the  Mar- 
quis, during  this  visit  at  Annapolis,  with  his  answers. 

'Annapolis,  JVovember  30/A,  1784.  ) 
In  Council.  ) 

'Sir, — We,  the  governor  and  council  of  Maryland, 
beg  leave  with  the  most  entire  respect  and  heart-felt 
satisfaction,  to  embrace  this  first  opportunity  of  your 
presence  in  the  metropolis  of  this  State,  since  the 
establishment  of  our  peace,  to  offer  you  our  warmest 
congratulations,  and  to  express  our  high  and  grateful 
sense  of  the  illustrious  share  which  you  bore  in  the 
accomplishment  of  that  happy  event. 

*The  early  and  decided  part  which  you  took  in  the 
cause  of  American  liberty  and  glory,  your  generous 
services  for  us  in  the  court  of  your  august  monarch, 

*  William  Paca. 


216  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

our  great  and  good  ally,  and  your  wise  and  magnani- 
mous conduct  in  the  field,  upon  many  of  the  most ' 
arduous  occasions  of  the  war,  have  endeared  your 
name  to  America,  and  enrolled  it  high  in  the  list  of 
patriots  and  heroes,  the  supporters  of  her  liberty,  and 
founders  of  her  empire. 

*May,  sir,  your  future  days  be  as  great  and  honour- 
able as  the  past,  and  may  heaven  take  under  its  pecu- 
liar care  and  protection,  a  life  so  eminently  distinguished 
for  its  attachment  and  devotion  to  the  rights  and  liber- 
ties of  mankind.  With  every  sentiment  of  regard  and 
respect,  we  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servant, 

'William  Paca. 

^The  honourable  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette.^ 

^To  his  excellency  the  Governor  and  the  honourable 

Council  of  the  State  of  Maryland. 

*(St>, — In  the  polite  attention  of  your  excellency  and' 
council,  I  find  myself  equally  obliged  to  your  attach- 
ment, and  honoured  by  your  approbation. 

'To  have  been  early  adopted  among  the  sons  of  free- 
dom, to  have  seen  French  and  American  standards 
united  in  the  cause  of  mankind,  to  have  so  peculiarly 
shared  in  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  the  United 
States,  are  ideas  the  more  pleasing  to  me,  as  I  am 
assured,  when  I  reflect  upon  the  difficulties  this  coun- 
try overcame,  that  she  will  attend  to  the  means  of 
splendor  and  happiness,  which  now,  thank  God,  are 
in  her  disposal. 

'I  beg,  sir,  your  excellency  and  council  will  accept 
the  warmest  acknowledgments,  and  sincerest  wishes 
that  an  affectionate  heart  can  most  respectfully  bestow.. 

La  Fayette.* 


AXNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  217 

'Mvember  30,  1784. 

^Sir, — The  general  assembly  of  Maryland,  are  happy 
in  having  an  opportunity  of  personally  testifying  the 
grateful  sense  they  and  their  constituents  entertain  of 
the  important  services  which  you  rendered  these  United 
States  during  the  late  war.  The  strong  attachment 
w^hich  you  have  manifested  to  its  interests  in  situations 
the  most  trying  and  difficult,  still  continues  to  actuate 
your  conduct ;  to  this  attachment  and  predilection  we 
partly  attribute  the  commercial  arrangements  lately 
adopted  by  his  Most  Christian  Majesty,  which  bid  fair 
to  perpetuate  and  extend  the  friendly  intercourse  and 
connexions  between  his  subjects  and  the  citizens  of 
these  United  States. 

*May  the  Great  Ruler  of  the  Universe  long  preserve 
a  life  which  has  been  so  early  dedicated  to  the  service 
of  humanity,  and  engaged  in  the  most  useful  and  bril- 
liant actions. 

*Geo.  Plater,  Pres.  Sen. 
'Tho.  C.  Deye,  Sp.  Ho.  Del. 

*The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette.^ 
*To  the  Honourable  the  General  Assembly  of  Maryland : 

^Gentlemen, — On  this  opportunity  so  pleasingly  anti- 
cipated, of  my  respectful  congratulations  to  your  gene- 
ral assembly,  I  meet  such  precious  marks  of  your  par- 
tiality, as  most  happily  complete  my  satisfaction. 

'Amidst  the  enjoyments  of  allied  successes,  affection 
conspires  with  interest  to  cherish  a  mutual  intercourse ; 
and  in  France  you  will  ever  find  that  sympathizing 
good  will,  which  leaves  no  great  room  for  private 
exertions.  With  the  ardor  of  a  most  zealous  heart,  I 
earnestly  hope  this  State,  ever  mindful  of  the  public 
spirit  she  has  conspicuously  displayed,  will  to  the 
19 


218  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

fullest  extent  improve  her  natural  advantages,  and  in 
the  federal  Union  so  necessary  to  all,  attain  the  highest 
degree  of  particular  happiness  and  prosperity. 

'While  you  are  pleased,  gentlemen,  to  consider  my 
life  as  being  devoted  to  the  service  of  humanity,  I  feel 
not  less  gratified  by  so  flattering  an  observation  than 
by  your  friendly  wishes  for  its  welfare,  and  the  pleasure 
I  now  experience  in  presenting  you  with  the  tribute  of 
my  attachment  and  gratitude.  La  Fayette.' 

During  the  sitting  of  this  legislature,  the  following 
■  act  was  passed : 

*An  act  to  naturalize  major-general  the  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette  and  his  heirs  male  forever. 

*  Whereas,  the  general  assembly  of  Maryland,  anxious 
to  perpetuate  a  name  dear  to  the  State,  and  to  recog- 
nize the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  for  one  of  its  citizens, 
who,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  left  his  native  country, 
and  risked  his  life  in  the  late  revolution ;  who,  on  his 
joining  the  American  army,  after  being  appointed  by 
congress  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  disinterestedly 
refused  the  usual  rewards  of  command,  and  sought 
only  to  deserve,  what  he  attained,  the  character  of  pa- 
triot and  soldier ;  who,  when  appointed  to  conduct  an 
incursion  into  Canada,  called  forth  by  his  prudence 
and  extraordinary  discretion,  the  approbation  of  con- 
gress ;  who,  at  the  head  of  an  army  in  Virginia,  baffled 
the  manoeuvres  of  a  distinguished  general,  and  excited 
the  admiration  of  the  oldest  commanders ;  who  early 
attracted  the  notice  and  obtained  the  friendship  of  the 
illustrious  general  Washington  ;  and  who  laboured  and 
succeeded  in  raising  the  honour  and  name  of  the 
United  States  of  America ;  therefore, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  219 

*JBe  it  enacted^  hy  the  General  Assembly  of  Maryland, 
That  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  and  his  heirs  male  for- 
ever, shall  be,  and  they  and  each  of  them  are  hereby 
deemed,  adjudged,  and  taken  to  be,  natural  born  citi- 
zens of  this  State,  and  shall  henceforth  be  entitled  to 
all  the  immunities,  rights  and  privileges  of  natural 
born  citizens  thereof,  they  and  every  of  them  conform- 
ing to  the  constitution  and  laws  of  this  State,  in  the 
enjoyment  and  exercise  of  such  immunities,  rights  and 
privileges.' 

From  this  period  Annapolis  rather  declined  in  her 
commerce  and  importance  as  a  city.  Until  about 
this  time,  the  merchants  of  Baltimore  had  here  been 
obliged  to  register,  enter  and  clear  vessels — but  a 
custom-house  being  now  established  there,  Thomas 
Sellers,  Esquire,  naval  officer,  was  authorized  to  grant 
registers  for  vessels  at  that  port.  Baltimore,  with  a 
thriving  and  enterprizing  people  in  the  interior,  at- 
tracted the  produce  of  the  country,  until  Annapolis 
gradually  lost  all  trade  of  importance.  This  was  done 
without  rivalry,  from  the  force  alone  of  circumstances 
and  location. 

Now  Baltimore  is  truly  styled  the  'emporium  of  the 
state  ;"■  and  her  increasing  population  and  greatness  is 
viewed  by  every  well-wisher  of  the  State,  with  plea- 
sure— for  the  interests  of  Baltimore  and  those  of  the 
State  at  large,  are  too  closely  united  and  identified  to 
permit  the  indulgence  of  any  other  feelings  than  such 
as  must  arise  in  the  bosom  of  every  Marylander  grati- 
fied at  the  growing  importance  of  the  one,  and  pros- 
perity and  honour  of  the  other. 

To  the  conclusion  of  this  volume  from  this  time, 
several  years  will  be  passed  by  without  notices  of  any 


220  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

kind  in  regard  to  the  city  of  Annapolis ;   no  records 
or  documents  are  to  be  found  which  afford  any  infor- 
mation deemed  sufficiently  interesting  or  amusing  to 
detail. 
17RQ        ^^'  ^^^^^^  College  was  opened  and  dedicated 

on  the  11th  of  November,  1789,  with  much 
solemnity,  in  the  presence  of  a  numerous  and  respecta- 
ble concourse  of  people.  The  members  of  the  general 
assembly,  the  chancellor,  judges  of  the  general  court, 
together  with  the  gentlemen  of  the  bar,  the  corporate 
authorities  of  the  city,  and  principal  inhabitants  thereof, 
preceded  by  the  students,  the  faculty,  and  the  govern- 
ors and  visiters  of  the  college,  walked  in  procession 
from  the  state-house  to  the  college  hall.  An  eloquent 
sermon,  well  adapted  to  the  occasion,  was  preached 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  Smith,  who  presided  for  the  day. 
An  oration  was  also  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Ralph 
Higinbothom,  on  the  advantages  of  a  classical  edu- 
cation. 
-^Q.        On  the  25th  of  March,  1791,  the  president  of 

the  United  States,  accompanied  by  his  private 
secretary,  major  Jackson,  reached  Annapolis.  He  was 
received  with  every  mark  of  respect  and  affection,  by 
the  citizens,  and  entertained  by  them  during  his  visit 
with  their  usual  and  known  hospitality.  Public  din- 
ners and  balls  were  given  on  the  occasion,  and  all 
seem  to  have  vied  with  each  other  to  make  their  dis- 
tinguished guest  sensible  of  the  gratitude  of  a  free  and 
enlightened  people.  On  his  leaving  the  city,  a  com- 
pany of  gentlemen  attended  him  as  far  as  South  river 
ferry,  where  they  took  leave  of  their  illustrious  fellow- 
citizen. 


ANNALS  01?   ANNAPOLIS.  221 

.^jj-g       At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Annapolis^ 
convened  at  the  state-house  on  the  28th  of  June^ 
1798,  the  following  address  to  the  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  unanimously  agreed  to : 

*  To  the  President  of  the  United  States: 

'The  address  of  the  citizens  of  Annapolis,  respect* 
fully  sheweth: 

'That  gratefully  sensible  of  the  blessings  we  enjoy 
under  a  government  freely  adopted,  after  mature  deli^ 
beration,  by  the  American  people,  and  desirous  of  per- 
petuating these  blessings  to  the  latest  posterity,  we 
view  with  no  less  surprise  than  indignation,  the  treat-^ 
ment  of  our  envoys  by  the  French  Directory,  and  the' 
proffered  terms  of  an  ignominious  and  precarious 
peace,  dependent  on  the  caprice  of  fleeting  and  cor* 
rupt  ministers  ;  we  remark  with  contempt,  the  opinion 
entertained  that  these  terms  ought  to  be  accepted,  be- 
cause our  disunion  will  render  opposition  to  the  enter- 
prizes  of  France  against  this  country  unavailing. 

'Threatened,  as  we  are,  with  conditions  harder  than 
these,  with  a  dismemberment  similar  to  that  of  Venice, 
and  with  revolutionary  systems,  which  the  rulers  of 
France^  intoxicated  with  success,  and  insatiable  of 
plunder,  have  produced  among  several  European  states 
within  their  grasp,  we  cannot  doubt,  that  all  tme  Ame- 
ricans "will  unite  cordially  in  defence  of  their  inde- 
pendence, and,  by  union,  avert  those  calamities  with 
which  a  timid  and  temporising  policy  has  overwhelmed 
those  countries,  the  victims  of  avarice,  ambition  and 
intrigue. 

'Believing,  as  we  do,  that  the  executive  of  the  united 
government  has  maintained   an  impartial  neutrality, 
19* 


22^  ANNALS    OF    ANXAPOLIS. 

and  that  it  has  sedulously  and  faithfully  endeavoured 
to  cultivate  the  friendship  of  France,  to  reconcile  sub- 
sisting differences,  and  to  remove  every  just  cause  of 
complaint  against  the  United  States,  (if  any  there  be,) 
we  are  determined  to  support,  to  the  utmost  of  our 
abilities,  the  measures  which  the  government  may 
think  proper  to  adopt  for  the  protection  of  commerce, 
the  defence  of  the  country,  and  in  vindication  of  the 
insulted  rights  of  an  independent  nation. 

*We  should  lament  the  necessity  of  engaging  in  a 
war,  which  the  American  people  and  government  have 
anxiously  sought  to  avoid ;  but  war,  with  all  its  hor- 
rors, would  be  preferable  to  base  submission.  On  the 
removal  of  the  present  rulers  of  France,  it  may  be 
expected  that  a  milder  policy  will  succeed  that  spirit 
of  aggrandisement  and  conquest  which  has  disorgan- 
ized Europe;  that  the  French  nation,  whose  sagacity 
equals  its  courage,  will  embrace  a  different  conduct 
towards  us  y  it  must  reprobate  the  measures  which 
may  force  us  to  be  its  foe ;  a  speedy  reconciliation  and 
reparation  of  injuries,,  we  con^dently  hope,  would  re- 
sult from  such  a  change.  But  as  this  event  may  be 
distant,  it  is  prudent  to  be  prepared  against  the  worst ; 
the  plans,  therefore,  now  adopted,  or  about  to  be 
adopted,  by  congress,  for  putting  this  country  in  the 
best  posture  of  defence,  meet  our  entire  approbation. 
We  believe  this  to  be  a  very  general  sentiment,  and 
we  wish  its  expression  to  be  as  general,  that  the  Direc- 
tory may  cease  to  project  on  the  supposed  disunion* 
of  our  citizens,  the  dismemberment  and  ruin  of  our 
country. 

*We  admire,  sir,  and  applaud,  that  firmness  of  tem- 
per which,  as  the  chief  magistrate  of  a  free  people,  yovk 


t 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS,  225 

have  displayed  during  your  administration.  Averse 
from  war,  and  dreading  its  concomitant  evils,  you  have 
evinced  an  earnest  disposition  to  preserve  the  peace  of 
your  country,  while  it  could  be  preserved  without  the 
sacrifice  of  its  honour  and  its  rights.  Persevere,  sir, 
in  the  same  line  of  conduct ;  we  trust  you  may  rely 
on  the  hearty  support  of  the  American  people,  whose 
calm  good  sense  discerns  their  true  interests,  and 
■whose  firm  and  deliberate  courage,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  Providence,  will  maintain  them. 

'Signed  by  order  of  the  citizens, 

'Nicholas  Carroll,  Chairman.^ 

To  which  address  the  president  transmitted  the  fol- 
lowing  answer: 

*To  the  Citizens  of  Annapolis,  in  the  State  of  Maryland^ 

*  Gentlemen, — I  am  sensible  of  the  honour  done  to 
me,  and  the  service  to  the  public,  by  your  unanimous 
address. 

'The  voluntary  acknowledgment  of  freemen  of  the 
blessings  they  enjoy  under  a  government  of  their  own 
institution  and  election,  may  safely  be  believed  to  be 
sincere. 

'With  you,  gentlemen,  I  wish  to  perpetuate  these 
blessings  to  the  latest  posterity ;  but  the  fate  of  Venice 
cannot  fail  to  remind  us  of  the  frailty  of  all  human  in- 
stitutions, and  of  the  necessity  of  constant  vigilance, 
fortitude  and  valour,  in  defence  of  them,  while  it  calls 
to  our  minds  the  esto  perpetua  of  its  great  patriot  and 
historian.  Father  Paul. 

'With  you  I  consider,  with  astonishment  and  indig- 
nation, the  repeated  and  persevering  contempt  and 
insolence  with  which  our  ambassadors  to  the  French 


224  ANNALS   or   ANNAtOLlSi 

Directory  have  been  treated ;  no  kind  of  justification 
or  apology  can  be  made  for  it. 

'You  do  no  more  than  justice  to  the  executive  au* 
thorities  of  the  United  States,  in  believing  that  it  has 
maintained  an  impartial  neutrality,  and  that  it  has 
sedulously  and  faithfully  endeavoured  to  cultivate  the 
friendship  of  France. 

'Your  determination  to  support  the  measures  which 
government  may  adopt  for  the  protection  of  commerce^ 
the  defence  of  the  country,  and  in  vindication  of  the 
insulted  rights  of  an  independent  nation,  is  consistent 
with  the  character  of  virtuous  citizens  and  zealous 
patriots. 

'I  agree  with  you,  that  war  is  preferable  to  any  base 
dtj^  submission ;  nor  is  it  possible  that  submission  itself 
should  avoid  war. 

'Although  the  sagacity  of  the  French  nation  is  equal 
to  its  courage,  we  must  consider  the  powers  that  be, 
as  their  representatives,  until  they  shall  determine 
otherwise,  nor  will  prudence  permit  us  to  trust  the 
safety  of  our  country  to  precarious  and  contingent 
events. 

'The  applause  of  the  citizens  of  Annapolis  is  very 
flattering  to  mci  My  aversion  to  war,  which  to  me, 
personally,  could  bring  in  its  train  neither  pleasure, 
profit  nor  glory,  nor  any  other  effect  than  an  incessant 
anxiety,  and  unremitted  labour,  may  easily  be  believed. 
Yet  I  cannot  sacrifice  the  honour  or  essential  rights  of 
my  country,  even  at  the  shrine  of  peace,  but  especially 
■when  it  is  obvious  that  such  sacrifices  could  produce 
nothing  but  war. 

*I  have  the  most  confident  reliance  on  the  support 
of  the  American  people,  their  good  sense,  their  dis* 


ANNAES    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  225 

cernment  of  their  true  interests,  their  firm  and  delibe- 
rate courage ;  nor  will  I  entertain  a  doubt  that  under 
the  protection  of  Divine  Providence,  these  virtues  and 
talents  will  preserve  them.  John  Adams. 

'United  States,  May  4,  1798.' 

The  citizens  of  Annapolis  in  the  above  spirited 
address,  showed  that  the  stern  courage  and  patriotic 
ardor  which  they  had  been  taught  in  the  school  of  the 
revolution,  were  not  in  the  least  abated.  And  that 
they  who  were  amongst  the  first  to  hail  with  joy,  an 
honourable  peace  with  Great  Britain,  were  now  among 
the  earliest  of  the  sons  of  freedom  to  repel  with  indig- 
nation the  insult  and  oppression  of  an  ambitious  and 
turbulent  Directory ;  and  preferred  war,  with  all  its 
train  of  evils,  rather  than  basely  to  submit  to  the 
dictation  of  a  foreign  power. 

In  August  of  this  year,  1798,  the  citizens  subscribed 
a  liberal  and  adequate  sum  for  the  purpose  of  erecting 
a  battery  and  mounting  cannon  thereon,  for  the  defence 
of  the  city  and  harbour,  and  appointed  the  following 
named  gentlemen  a  committee  to  carry  the  same  into 
effect,  viz :  John  Davidson,  John  Shaw,  John  Gassa- 
way,  James  Williams  and  Samuel  Godman,  Esquires. 
g  The  22d.  day  of  February,  1800,  being  the 

day  appointed  by  the  proclamations  of  the  pre- 
sident of  the  United  States  and  of  the  governor  of  this 
State,  'as  a  day  of  mourning,  humiliation  and  prayer,' 
the  same  was  observed  in  this  city  in  the  most  public 
and  solemn  manner,  as  a  just  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
the  immortal  Washington. 

The  day  was  ushered  in  by  a  morning  gun  ;  and  the 
colours  were  suspended  from  the  dome  of  the  state- 
house,  in  mourning. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

At  half  past  ten  o'clock,  the  procession  proceeded 
from  the  state-house,  in  the  following  order : 

The  Governor. 

Ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

Executive. 

Chancellor  and  Judges  of  the  General  Court. 

Officers  of  Government. 

Professors  of  the  College. 

Mayor  and  Corporation  of  the  City. 

Officers  of  Militia. 

Infantry. 

Citizens. 

During  the  procession,  mitAite  guns  were  fired — the 
bell  tolling. 

The  services  of  the  day  were  performed  in  St. 
Anne's  church.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Higinbothom  deli- 
vered a  discourse  from  the  following  words ;  '7/  is 
appointed Jhr  all  men  once  to  die  ;^  'in  which  (it  is  said 
by  one  who  was  present)  the  eminent  virtues  and  dis- 
tinguished services  of  the  deceased,  were  portrayed  in 
strong  and  eloquent  language.' 

In  the  afternoon,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts  officiated  in 
the  same  church,  who  addressed  the  congregation  in 
an  eloquent  and  masterly  discourse  from  the  following 
text :  ^Know  ye  not  that  there  is  a  prince  and  a  great 
man  fallen  this  day  in  Israel.^ 

1804  ^"  *^^  ^^^^  November,  1804,  the  French 
frigate  'Le  President,'  of  44  guns,  captain  Le 
Brosse,  arrived  and  anchored  off  Annapolis,  having 
on  board  the  celebrated  general  Tureau,  the  minister 
plenipotentiary  from  the  emperor  of  the  French,  to 
the  United  States.     In  the  afternoon  she  fired  a  sa- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  227 

lute,  which  was  returned  by  captain  Muir's  company 
of  artillerists.  The  next  day  the  general  landed  under 
a  salute  of  17  guns,  and  was  received  by  the  governor; 
and  on  the  following  day  he  left  this  city  for  Wash- 
ington. 

On  the  21st  of  the  same  month,  the  honourable 
William  Pinkney  arrived  here  from  his  embassy  in 
England.  The  arrival  of  this  distinguished  man,  was 
hailed  with  joy  by  his  fellow-citizens — a  large  con- 
(y)urse  of  whom,  attended  by  the  members  of  the  state 
legislature,  waited  on  him.  The  citizens  presented 
him  with  a  congratulatory  address,  and  invited  him  to 
partake  of  a  public  dinner.  Mr.  Pinkney  accepted 
the  invitation,  and  in  his  reply  acknowledged  the 
peculiar  sensibility  with  which  he  read  the  kind  and 
flattering  testimonial  of  his  fellow-citizens'  approbation 
and  esteem,  and  said — 'to  meet  with  such  a  recej)tion 
from  the  inhabitants  of  ray  native  city,  to  which  in 
every  vicissitude  of  life  and  fortune,  I  have  always 
felt,  and  shall  continue  to  feel,  the  most  lively  attach- 
ment, is  more  grateful  to  my  heart  than  I  am  able  to 
express.' 
-pfvr        On  the  15th  of  September,  1805,  the  release 

of  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  frigate  Philadel- 
phia, from  Tripolitan  captivity,  was  celebrated  by  our 
citizens  with  every  demonstration  of  joy  becoming  an 
event  which  was  hailed  with  a  general  exultation 
throughout  our  country,  especially  as  their  deliverance 
was  effected  by  the  valour  and  bravery  of  our  gallant 
little  navy, 
j^  The  citizens  of  Annapolis  held  a  meeting  on 

the  29lh  of  June,  1807,  and  took  iijto  conside- 
ration what  measures  it  became  them  to  adopt  in  rela- 


838^  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

tion  to  the  outrage  which  had  been  committed  upon 
the  frigate  Chesapeake,  by  the  British  naval  force  then 
on  our  coast. 

His  excellency  governor  Wright,  was  unanimously 
requested  to  take  the  chair,  and  John  Johnson,  esq. 
was  appointed  secretary. 

After  the  cause  of  the  meeting  had  been  stated  in  an 
appropriate  address  from  the  chair,  several  spirited  re- 
solutions were  adopted,  expressive  of  their  sentiments 
of  detestation  and  resentment,  with  which  they  viewed 
the  unprovoked  attack  upon  the  Chesapeake — pledged 
their  lives  and  fortunes  to  co-operate  with  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  in  any  measure  of  retalia- 
tion which  might  be  adopted.  Also,  renouncing  all 
intercourse  with  the  British  ships-of-war  stationed  on 
our  coast,  until  the  decision  of  our  government  should 
be  known;  with  other  declarations  on  the  same  sub- 
ject, and  with  arrangements  for  carrying  the  design  of 
these  resolutions  into  effect. 

On  the  26th  of  August  of  this  year,  the  startling  in- 
formation was  received  here  of  a  piracy  having  been 
committed  in  the  Chesapeake  bay,  about  thirty  miles 
below  Annapolis,  by  a  French  pirate,  in  the  capture  of 
the  ship  Othello,  captain  Glover,  bound  to  Baltimore. 

Spirited  preparations  were  immediately  made,  and 
the  'Holy-Hawk'  packet,  with  two  brass  four-poun- 
ders, under  command  of  capt.  Muir  of  the  artillery, 
and  capt.  Duvall  of  the  infantry,  with  a  detachment  of 
their  respective  companies,  armed  with  muskets  •  and 
boarding  pikes,  accompanied  by  a  boat  from  the 
'L'Eole,'  (then  lying  in  our  harbour,)  with  thirty- 
three  volunteers,  French  and  American,  under  the 
command  of  lieut.  Mann,  of  the  United  States'  navy, 


ji      ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  229 

and  an  officer  of  the  '•VEok^  sailed  in  pursuit  of  the 
pirate.  They  proceeded  some  distance  down  the  bay, 
but  returned  without  encountering  the  modern  Kidd. 
Detachments  from  Baltimore,  under  captains  Samuel 
and  John  Sterett,  in  conjunction  with  captain  Porter, 
of  the  U.  S.  navy,  were  more  fortunate.  The  piratical 
vessel  was  taken  to  that  port.  Five  of  the  crew,  who 
had  passed  through  this  place,  were  captured  by  our 
citizens  a  short  distance  from  town,  and  were  also 
taken  to  Baltimore*  A  gentleman^  then  high  in  autho- 
rity, assured  the  captors  of  these  five  unarmed  French 
pirates,  'that  they  deserved  well  of  their  country.' 

Nothing  material  transpired  from  this  period  until 
the  war  of  1812,  when  the  citizens  of  Annapolis  were 
still  the  same  patriotic  and  zealous  people  in  the  cause 
of  their  country,  and  for  which  they  have  ever  been 
distinguished  in  times  of  peril  and  danger :  always  as 
resolved  to  repel  an  invasion  of  their  soil,  as  were 
their  ancestors  to  resist  tyranny  and  oppression. 


20 


fiSO  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

BRIEF    DESCRIPTION    OF    THE     CITY    OF    ANNAPOLIS,    AND 
ITS     MORE    PROMINENT    PUBLIC    BUILDINGS. 

City  of  Annapolis — Its  Population — Shipping — Its  Site — Its  Advan- 
tages— Naval  Academy — The  Round  Bay — Rail  Road — Its  proxi- 
mity to  the  seat  of  the  National  Government — Its  Harbour — The 
Treasury — The  Government-house — St.  John's  College— Epis-  | 
copal  Church — Roman  Catholic  Chapel — Methodist  Church —  1 
African  House  of  Worship — The  Farmers'  Bank  of  Maryland — 
Court-house— City  Hall— City  Hotel— Ball-room— Theatre— The 
Garrison  at  Fort  Severn. 

Annapolis,  the  capital  of  Maryland,  received  its 
name  in  1708,  in  honour  of  Queen  Anne,  the  then 
reigning  monarch  of  England.  It  is  situated  on  the 
south  branch  of  the  river  Severn,  thirty  miles  south 
from  Baltimore,  and  forty  miles  east-north-east  from 
Washington,  in  latitude  38°  58'  north ;  longitude, 
Washington  city,  0°  31'  east. 

Its  population  is  about  three  thousand ;  shipping, 
4006  tons.  It  stands  on  a  peninsula  formed  by 
Acton's  creek  on  the  south,  and  Covey's  creek  on 
the  north ;  the  heads  of  these  two  creeks  being 
within  half  a  mile  of  each  other.  Its  greatest  length 
is  little  more  than  a  mile,  and  in  breadth  something 
more  than  half  a  mile.  It  covers  an  area  of  about  an 
hundred  and  forty-three  acres.  The  site  of  the  city 
is  one  of  great  beauty,  commanding  an  extensive  view 
of  the  Chesapeake  and  the  surrounding  country,  which 
exhibits  a  great  diversity  of  landscape  and  picturesque 
scenery.  The  appellation  of  the  ^beautiful  cily,^  has 
often  been  applied"  to  her,  especially  when  clothed  in 
nature's  brightest  livery. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  231 

Annapolis  is  the  natal  place  of  some  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  Americacan  boast  of;  and  has  the 
honour  of  being  the  native  place  of  five  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  accomplished  peeresses  of  our  mother 
land. 

This  city  is  admirably  adapted  as  a  location  for  a 
JVaval  Academy,  an  institution  which  has  long  been 
desired  by  all  classes  of  our  citizens.  Her  central 
position  between  the  north  and  the  south ;  her  proxi- 
mity to  the  seat  of  our  national  government ;  her  fine 
and  commodious  harbour,  which  gives  her  great  com- 
mercial advantages — all  combine  to  recommend  her  to 
the  general  government  as  decidedly  the  best  location 
in  the  Union  for  the  site  of  such  an  institution.  There 
is  water  bold  and  extensive  enough  for  all  desirable 
purposes ;  and  only  seven  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Severn  is  the  Round  Bay,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water, 
which  of  itself  presents  a  commodious  and  secure 
harbour  for  ships-of-war,  and  in  every  respect  is  an 
eligible  depot  for  naval  stores.  The  Annapolis  and 
Elkridge  rail  road  being  finished,  the  distance  be- 
tween Annapolis  and  Washington  can  be  accom- 
plished in  less  than  three  hours,  which  removes  at 
once  all  the  force  of  the  objection  heretofore  made  on 
the  ground  of  its  difficulty  of  access  during  the  winter. 

It  now  occupies  three  hours  by  steamboat  travel  be- 
tween this  place  and  Baltimore ;  by  the  rail  road,  two 
hours,  and  perhaps  less,  will  suffice  to  pass  from  one 
to  the  other.  And  thus  will  Annapolis  be  rendered  a 
suitable  and  convenient  outer  or  winter  harbour  for  the 
great  emporium  of  our  State,  whose  harbour  is  fre- 
quently closed  by  ice,  while  this  is  open  all  the  wintef, 
unless  it  be  one  of  unusual  severity. 


232  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  public  buildings  are  the  state-house,  the  trea- 
sury, the  government-houpe,  St.  John's  college.  Epis- 
copal church,  Roman  Catholic  chapel,  Methodist 
church,  African  house  of  worship,  the  Farmers'  Bank 
of  Maryland,  court-house,  city  hall,  city  hotel,  ball- 
room, theatre,  the  garrison  at  fort  Severn, 

THE    STATE'JIOUSE. 

The  State-house  is  situated  on  a  beautiful  elevatioa 
in  the  centre  of  the  city.  It  has  elicited  alike  the  ad- 
miration of  the  citizen,  the  sojourner,  and  the  stranger, 
for  the  beauty  of  its  structure. 

The  main  building  is  of  brick,  and  the  superstruc- 
ture which  surmounts  it  is  of  wood. 

The  height  from  the  base  to  the  top  of  the  spire  is 
two  hundred  feet.  From  the  platform  of  the  dome, 
which  is  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  high,  the 
spectator  has  one  of  the  most  delightful  panoramic 
views  to  be  found  within  the  United  States.  It  com- 
mands a  view  of  nature  in  all  the  beauty  of  poetic 
scenery — the  ancient  city — its  environs — the  adjacent 
country — the  noble  Chesapeake,  and  the  eastern  shore 
beyond  it,  for  an  extent  of  thirty  miles  around,  breaks 
upon  the  view  of  the  delighted  eye. 

The  hill  on  whicli  stands  this  noble  edifice,  is 
enclosed  by  a  neat  and  substantial  granite  wall,  sur- 
mounted by  a  handsome  iron  railing,  which  is  entered 
by  three  gates,  one  situated  at  the  head  of  Francis 
street,  and  in  front  of  the  building,  the  second  to  the 
south-west,  and  the  third  to  the  north-east  of  the 
circle. 

The  main  entrance  to  the  building  is  through  a  por- 
tico of  but  modest  pretensions,  and  opens  into  a  spa- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS."  \  233 

<;ious  and  beautiful  hall,  in  which  is  had  a  view  of 
the  interior  of  the  dome,  the  stucco  work  of  which 
was  made  from  plaster  brought  from  St.  Mary's 
county. 

On  the  right  hand  of  the  hall  is  the  senate  chamber. 
This  room  is  judiciously  and  tastefully  fitted  up  for  the 
use  of  the  senators  of  our  State.  It  is  34  feet  by  40 ; 
it  has  a  lobby  and  gallery  for  the  accommodation  of 
visitors.  Persons  of  distinction  are  often  invited  within 
the  bar  of  the  senate,  where  seats  are  provided  for 
them.  Portraits  at  full  length,'  of  the  distinguished 
Charles  Carroll  of  CarroUton,  Samuel  Chase,  William 
Paca,  and  Thomas  Stone,  ornament  the  walls.  These 
gentlemen  were  the  four  signers  of  the  declaration  of 
independence,  on  the  part  of  Maryland,  and  were  at 
that  period  all  citizens  of  Annapolis  ;  each  of  them  in 
his  day  filled  various  posts  of  honour  and  responsibi- 
lity, and  shared  largely  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow-citizens. 

The  first  named  gentleman  was  the  last  survivor  of 
that  illustrious  band  of  patriots  who  signed  the  decla- 
ration of  American  independence. 

There  is  also  in  this  room  a  portrait  of  the  'hero  of 
the  Cowpens,'  the  virtuous  and  excellent  John  Eager 
Howard,  who  has  with  the  rest  of  his  compatriots, 
gone  to  the  land  of  bis  fathers,  there  to  reap  the  re- 
wards of  an  honourable  and  well-spent  life.  In  1788- 
'89  and  '90,  Mr.  Howard  was  governor  of  Maryland. 
The  first  and  last  named  portraits  were  painted  by 
Mr,  Sully ;  the  others  by  Mr.  Bordley,  both  native 
artists.  There  is  likewise  in  this  room  a  portrait 
of  the  elder  Pitt,  the  friend  of  America.  In  this 
picture  lord  Chatham  is  repres^pted  at  full  length,  in 
20* 


234  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

the  attitude  and  costume  of  a  Roman  orator — with 
decorations  of  emblematical  figures,  expressive  of  his 
noble  principles.  It  was  painted  by  Charles  Wilson 
Peale,  (who  was  a  native  of  Annapolis,)  while  in  Eng- 
land, and  presented  by  him  in  the  year  1794,  to  his 
native  State. 

This  room  is  still  more  memorable  as  being  the  spot 
upon  which  was  cpnsummated  the  greatest  act  in  the 
life  of  the  greatest  man  of  any  age.  It  was  here  that 
Washington,  after  having  rescued  his  country  from 
foreign  dominion  and  usurpation,  nobly  laid  down  his 
authority  on  the  altar  of  liberty — resigning  his  com- 
mission into  the  hands  of  congress. 

And  in  this  room,  too,  was  ratified  by  the  same  con- 
gress, the  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  of  1783, 
recognizing  our  independence. 

Adjoining  the  senate  chamber  is  the  committee 
room,  neatly  fitted  up  for  the  purposes  to  which  it  is 
applied. 

On  the  left  of  the  hall,  immediately  opposite  to  the 
senate  chamber,  is  the  chamber  of  the  house  of  dele- 
gates, of  the  same  dimensions  of  the  senate  chamber, 
neatly  fitted  up,  and  accommodates  seventy-nine  mem- 
bers, who  sit  at  desks  conveniently  arranged.  It  has 
also  a  lobby  and  gallery  for  the  accommodation  of 
spectators,  and  with  it  are  connected  committee  rooms. 
From  the  walls  of  this  room  is  suspended  a  large  pic- 
ture, presenting  a  full  length  likeness  of  general  Wash- 
ington, attended  by  general  La  Fayette  and  colonel 
Tilghman,  his  aids-de-camp ;  the  continental  army 
passing  in  review.  In  his  hand  be  holds  the  articles 
of  capitulation  at  Yorktown. 
'    This  picture  was  painted  by  Charles  Wilson  Peale, 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS;  235 

m  pursuance  of  a  resolution  of  the  general  assembly  of 
Maryland. 

At  the  termination  of  the  hall  of  entrance,  the  State 
library  is  situated,  which  is  appropriately  fitted  up. 
There  are  seven  alcoves  on  the  first  floor,  and  ten 
arches  on  the  gallery.  It  contains  at  this  time  twelve 
thousand  volumes,  and  is  calculated  to  hold  twenty 
thousand.  It  is  of  but  recent  origin,  and  has  for  the 
short  period  of  its  existence,  under  the  fostering  care 
of  the  legislature,  already  become  valuable  as  a  State 
institution. 

This  portion  of  the  hall  was  formerly  occupied  by 
the  general  court  of  Maryland,  and  used  as  a  hall  of 
justice  until  1804,  when  that  court  was  abolished.  It 
remained  unoccupied  from  that  period  until  the  year 
1834,  when  it  was  fitted  up  and  appropriated  to  its 
present  purpose. 

In  the  public  hall  are  two  archways,  the  one  on  the 

right,  leads  by  a  flight  of  stairs  to  the  State  department, 

directly  over  the   senate  chamber.      This   room  was 

occupied  under  the  late  constitution  of  the  State,  by 

the  governor  and  council.     It  has  recently  undergone 

^  repair,  and  is  neatly  and  appropriately  furnished. 

*'      The  executive  business  is  here  transacted  by  the 

•    governor  and  the  secretary  of  State. 

A  room  north  of  the  State  department,  formerly 
occupied  as  the  State  library,  is  now  the  office  of  the 
adjutant-general. 

Opposite  to  the  door  of  the  State  department,  a  gal- 
lery leads  to  the  armory,  and  to  the  dome  of  the  build- 
ing. The  arrangement  of  the  armory  is  considered  by 
many  as  one  of  great  beauty,  the  arms  being  disposed 
of  upon  the  ceiling  and  walls  of  the  room. 


236  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  archway  on  the  left  of  the  public  hall,  leads  by 
a  flight  of  stairs  to  the  court  of  appeals'  chamber,  im- 
mediately over  the  hall  of  the  house  of  delegates,  and 
to  'the  chancery  office,  which  occupies  the  west  angle 
on  the  second  floor ;  likewise  to  one  of  the  committee 
rooms  of  the  house  of  delegates. 

In,  the  rear  of  the  building  are  two  entrances,  the 
one  on  the  west  leads  to  the  land  office,  and  the  other 
to  record  rooms  of  the  court  of  appeals. 

THE    TREASURY. 

Within  the  circle  enclosing  the  state-house,  on  the 
eastern  margin  of  the  hill,  stands  the  treasury  depart- 
ment. This  building  is  venerable  as  well  as  memora- 
ble, for  having  been  the  legislative  hall  of  the  provin- 
cial government.  In  the  larger  room,  the  lower  house, 
and  in  the  smaller  one,  the  upper  house  of  assembly 
sat  for  many  years ;  such  accommodations  contrast 
strikingly  with  those  of  the  present  day. 

From  the  state-house  and  Episcopal  church  circles, 
respectively,  many  of  the  streets  radiate,  and  inter- 
sect each  other  at  convenient  points.  The  plan  is  a 
peculiar  and  an  agreeable  one,  when  viewed  from 
some  prominent  point. 

GOVERNMENT-HOUSE. 

The  main  building  of  the  government-house,  was 
erected  by  Edmund  Jennings,  Esq.,  and  was  pur- 
chased from  hira  by  governor  Eden,  when  he  presided 
over  the  province  of  Maryland ;  and  by  whom  were 
built  the  wings  and  long  room. 

This  edifice  has  a  handsome  court  and  garden,  ex- 
tending, with  the  exception  of  an  intervening  lot,  to 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  237 

the  water's  edge.  From  the  portico  looking  to  the 
garden,  a  fine  prospect  regales  the  vision.  The  build- 
ing consists  of  two  stories,  and  presents  an  extensive 
front;  there  are  on  the  lower  floor  a  large  room  on 
each  side  of  the  hall  as  you  enter,  and  several  smaller 
ones ;  the  saloon,  on  the  same  floor,  is  nearly  the 
length  of  the  house.  On  each  side  of  the  edifice  are 
commodious  kitchens,  carriage-houses  and  stables, 
with  spacious  lots.  Towards  the  water,  the  building 
rises  in  the  middle  in  a  turreted  shape.  It  stands 
detached  from  other  structures,  and  is  altogether  a 
delightful  and  suitable  mansion  for  the  residence  of 
the  chief  magistrate  of  our  State. 

ST.  John's  college. 

In  1784,  the  general  assembly  of  Maryland  passed 
an  act  for  founding  a  college  on  the  western  shore, 
and  incorporated  the  institution  by  the  name  of  the 
♦Visitors  and  Governors  of  St.  John's  College;'  and 
for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  'permanent  fund  for  the 
further  encouragement  and  establishment  of  the  said 
college,'  the  sum  of  £1750  was  'annually  and  forever 
thereafter  given  and  granted,  as  a  donation  by  the 
public,  to  the  use  of  the  said  college.' 

The  legislature  also  granted  for  the  use  of  the  insti- 
tution, four  acres  of  land,  (now  known  by  the  name  of 
the  College  Green,)  and  which  land  had  been  in  the 
year  1744,  conveyed  by  Stephen  Boardley  to  Mr. 
Bladen,  the  then  governor  of  Maryland.  Mr.  Bladen 
projected  the  present  college  building,  as  a  noble  man- 
sion for  the  tesidence  of  the  governors  of  Maryland.^ 
A  Mr.  DufF  (the  architect)  came  over  from  Scotland  to 
superintend  the  construction  of  the  building.     Mate- 


12138  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

rials  of  every  kind  were  provided  equal  to  the  spirit  of 
public  liberality,  and  the  edifice  was  nearly  completed 
in  a  style  of  superior  magnificence,  when  an  unhappy 
contention  took  place  between  the  governor  and  legis- 
lature, which  increased  to  such  a  degree,  that  at  a 
period  when  a  very  trifling  sum  would  have  rendered 
it  a  noble  residence,  the  further  prosecution  of  the  de- 
sign was  discontinued,  and  it  remained  for  a  long  time 
a  melancholy  and  mouldering  monument  of  the  con- 
sequences resulting  from  political  dissensions.  It 
received  the  cognomen  of  the  'governor's  folly.' 

The  depredations  of  time  had  greatly  injured  the 
interior  of  the  building,  which  in  an  unfinished  state, 
continued  many  years  exposed  to  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather.  But  the  legislature,  actuated  by  sentiments 
which  reflect  the  highest  credit  on  their  patriotism  and 
wisdom,  having  determined  to  endow  and  found  a  col- 
lege for  the  education  of  youth  in  every  liberal  and 
useful  branch  of  science,  wisely  resolved  to  repair  the 
damages  sustained,  and  to  apply  the  building  to  the 
purposes  of  education. 

The  agents  appointed  by  the  legislature  for  solicit- 
ing subscriptions  and  donations  for  St.  John's  college, 
were  the  Rev.  John  Carroll,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Smith  and 
Patrick  Allison,  Doctors  of  Divinity,  and  Richard 
Sprigg,  John  Steret  and  George  Diggs,  Esqs.,  with 
power  to  appoint  other  agents. 

By  an  act  of  assembly  passed  in  1785,  the  funds  of 
'King  William's  school,'  which  had  been  founded  at 
Annapolis  ever  since  the  year  1696,  were  conveyed  to 
St.  John's  college. 

In  thus  establishing  a  seminary  of  learning  at  the 
seat  of  government,  our  patriots  and  statesmen  mani- 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  239 

fested  their  sense  of  the  great  importance  of,  and  the 
happy  results  which  would  flow  from  an  institution  of 
this  character,  under  the  State  patronage,  and  how 
inseparably  it  was  connected  with  the  interest  and 
happiness  of  our  people.  For  years  the  flourishing 
condition  of  St.  John's  fully  realized  the  most  sanguine 
expectations  of  its  noble  and  enlightened  founders. 
Scholars  and  statesmen  were  sent  forth  from  her  halls, 
who  have  been  the  pride  of  her  own  and  the  admira- 
tion of  other  States,  and  who  have  earned  for  them- 
selves the  highest  reputation,  and  reflected  honour  on 
their  alma  mater.  But  alas !  this  noble  and  efficient 
monument  of  the  wisdom  of  our  progenitors,  was  but 
too  soon  to  meet  a  sad  reverse  of  fortune.  For  as 
early  as  the  year  1805,  we  find  that  political  discord — 
that  horrible  hydra  with  its  hundred  heads — reared  its 
crest  against  this  institution,  and  by  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature in  that  year,  the  funds  of  the  college  were  with- 
drawn. This  paralyzed  its  energies,  and  reduced  it  to 
a  languishing  condition,  in  which  posture  it  remained 
until  1811,  when  the  legislature,  partially  awakened  to 
a  sense  of  duty  and  justice  to  the  cause  of  education, 
granted  $1000  annually,  and  again  in  1821,  granted  to 
its  visitors  and  governors  a  scheme  of  a  lottery,  by 
which  was  added  to  its  permanent  funds,  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars. 

In  1831,  when  the  efforts  of  its  visitors  and  govern- 
ors were  crowned  with  success  in  obtaining  the  ser- 
vices of  its  present  able  principal,  a  still  brighter 
prospect  dawned  upon  this  old  and  favoured  institu- 
tion of  our  State.  By  the  united  and  unceasing  exer- 
tions of  the  faculty,  visitors  and  governors  of  the  insti- 
tution, it  was  again  placed  in  a  prosperous  condition. 


240  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

The  efforts  thus  made  to  revive  this  venerable  seminary 
of  learning,  could  not  but  attract  the  further  attention 
of  our  legislature.  In  1833,  the  State  came  nobly  to 
the  rescue  of  good  old  St.  John's,  and  passed  an  act  of 
compromise,  by  which  $2000  per  annum,  in  addition 
to  former  grants,  were  secured  to  the  college  forever, 
and  which  the  visitors  and  governors  accepted  in  full  of 
their  legal  and  equitable  claims  ;  and  a  deed  of  release, 
enjoined  by  the  provisions  of  the  act,  was  executed 
and  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  court  of  appeals. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  the  visitors  and  govern- 
ors of  the  college,  held  on  the  15th  of  February,  1834, 
the  principal  was  authorized  and  requested  to  collect 
subscriptions,  to  be  applied  to  the  erection  of  suitable 
buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  students,  and  for 
the  improving  and  extending  the  library  and  the  philo- 
sophical apparatus  of  the  institution. 

For  the  purpose  of  carrying  this  object  into  effect, 
the  principal  visited  several  parts  of  the  State,  and 
succeeded  in  obtaining  a  subscription  of  more  than 
twelve  thousand  dollars.  From  the  proceeds  of  which 
has  been  erected  a  beautiful  edifice,  finished  in  a  style 
of  elegance  that  reflects  great  credit  upon  its  pro- 
jectors. 

This  building  is  designed  for  one  of  the  professors, 
and  the  students  ;  there  are  twenty  private  rooms  in  it, 
intended  for  separate  studies  for  members  of  the  ad- 
vanced classes,  and  two  large  dormitories  for  pupils  in 
the  preparatory  branches.  A  building  like  this  had 
long  been  greatly  needed^  and  will  add  much  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  institution.  It  will  accommodate  at 
least  sixty  students  in  all  the  departments. 

There  is  a  library  in  the  institution,  but  by  no  means 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  241 

such  an  one  as  it  should  be ;  although  there  is  a  large 
collection  of  books,  and  some  of  them  of  rare  and 
curious  editions,  yet  they  are  not  of  the  kind  most 
needed  in  an  institution  of  the  highest  order  of  science. 
And  it  is  ardently  hoped  that  the  State,  under  whose 
auspices  this  institution  has  been  so  recently  revived, 
will  bestow  an  adequate  fund  for  furnishing  its  library 
with  all  the  standard  authors  in  literature,  in  science 
and  the  arts  ;  and  especially  with  all  the  philosophical 
and  scientific  journals  published  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe. 

There  have  been  at  all  times  at  least  ten  students  in 
the  institution,  who  receive  instruction  free  of  expense, 
under  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  assembly.  Provision 
is  also  made  by  the  visitors  and  governors  to  receive 
in  addition,  one  scholar  from  each  county  in  the  State. 

The  cabinet  of  minerals  belonging  to  the  college, 
consists  of  various  and  interesting  specimens  of  ores 
and  marls  found  within  the  borders  of  our  own  State, 
which  have  been  collected  and  arranged  by  Mr.  Duca- 
tel,  the  distinguished  professor  who  was  recently  at  the 
head  of  that  branch  of  science ;  also,  some  very  valu- 
able specimens  of  minerals  and  ores  of  other  States  and 
foreign  countries.  And  valuable  contributions  are  con- 
tinued to  be  made  from  various  quarters. 

St.  John's  college  stands  on  an  eminence  at  the  ter- 
mination of  Prince  George  street,  and  is  a  four-storied 
structure,  including  the  basement,  and  has  recently 
undergone  considerable  repairs.  A  more  delightful 
situation  was  never  appropriated  than  this  for  its  pur- 
poses. It  is  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Severn, 
within  the  limits  of  the  city,  commanding,  in  every 
point  of  view,  the  most  interesting  and  beautiful  ob- 
21 


242  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

jects.  The  adjacent  country  is  open  and  healthy;  the 
contiguous  grounds  are  sufficiently  extensive  for  the 
advantages  of  exercise  and  amusement ;  and  the  fabric 
contains  a  variety  of  spacious  and  convenient  apart- 
ments for  the  accommodation  of  the  professors  and 
students. 

The  peculiar  advantages  to  youth  in  being  educated 
at  this  seminary,  are  numerous  and  evident ;  with  re- 
spect to  health,  as  far  as  a  high  and  dry  soil,  with  pure 
air,  will  contribute  to  its  preservation,  or  restore  it 
when  impaired,  few  places  can  be  put  in  competition 
with,  and  none  can  excel  it.  The  sessions  of  the 
general  assembly,  and  the  meeting  of  the  courts  of 
appeals,  chancery  and  county,  are  so  obviously  bene- 
ficial to  those  young  men  who  may  be  called  to  the 
public  service,  or  enter  into  the  profession  of  the  law, 
that  no  parent,  especially  a  citizen  of  our  State,  should 
hesitate  a  moment  to  send  his  son,  whom  he  desires  to 
become  eminent  in  any  of  the  professions,  to  a  place 
where  he  is  the  most  likely  to  acquire  those  qualifica- 
tions which  will  render  him  useful  and  distinguished 
as  a  statesman,  or  afford  him  the  greatest  chance  of 
professional  improvement. 

Large  cities  often  defeat  the  salutary  purposes  of 
education,  by  furnishing  incitements  to  vice,  and  af- 
fording opportunities  of  concealment.  Annapolis  is 
happily  free  from  these  objections  ;  and  the  discipline 
of  this  institution  is  such  as  to  prevent  the  student 
from  deviating  from  the  path  of  rectitude,  even  if  so 
inclined.  The  forming  of  manners,  so  essential  to 
those  who  are  intended  for  any  public  or  private  pur- 
suit, will  keep  pace  with  the  improvement  of  the  intel- 
lect, and  a  youth  when  qualified  to  enter  on  the  scene 


# 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  S4S 

of  action,  will  be  enabled  to  perform  his  part  with 
ease  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  observer. 

If  all  the  advantages  mentioned  are  united  in  this 
institution,  and  which  it  is  presumed  no  one  will  dis- 
pute, why,  we  may  inquire,  should  the  citizens  of 
Maryland  send  their  sons  abroad  to  other  seminaries, 
instead  of  patronizing  an  institution  of  our  own?  An 
institution,  we  will  venture  to  assert,  that  has  sent 
forth  to  the  world,  a  constant  and  regular  supply  of 
alumni,  who  by  their  talents  at  the  bar,  in  the  sacred 
desk,  and  in  our  legislative  halls,  have  proved  them- 
selves inferior  to  none  from  any  other  seminary  in  the 
Union. 

The  college  green,  in  the  revolutionary  war,  was 
used  as  the  encampment  of  the  French  army;  and 
also  by  the  American  troops  assembled  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Traces  of  these  encampments  still  remain,  and 
render  it  an  object  of  touching  interest;  parts  of  it 
exhibit  mounds  raised  to  those  who  died  in  service ; 
and  though  *no  storied  urn'  designates  the  spot  where 
the  remains  of  any  distinguished  warrior  repose — all 
being  indiscriminately  inhumed — yet  the  interest  of 
their  fate  is  undiminished  by  this  circumstance,  when 
we  reflect  that  they  died  in  the  same  glorious  cause. 

On  the  grounds  east  of  the  college,  stands  a  large 
forest  poplar,  or  'American  tulip  tree,'  the  age  of 
which  is  not  known.  It  is  highly  probable  that  it 
formed  a  part  of  the  forest  which  was  growing  when 
Annapolis  was  first  settled  by  the  puritans  in  1649. 
This  tree  has  been  commemorated  in  verse  by  a 
distinguished  graduate  of  St.  John's,  (the  lamented 
Doctor  John  Shaw,  who  was  a  native  of  our  city,) 
and  is  held  to  this  day  in  great  veneration  by  our 


244  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

citizens.  But  a  short  time  since,  it  was  accidentally 
set  on  fire.  The  occurrence  excited  as  much  interest 
in,  and  exertion  on  the  part  of  our  inhabitants  to 
extinguish  it,  and  save  the  old  favourite  tree  from  de- 
struction, as  if  it  had  been  one  of  the  finest  buildings 
of  the  town.  It  was  truly  gratifying  to  see  the  inte- 
rest elicited  and  the  delight  manifested  by  many  when 
the  progress  of  the  fire  was  arrested. 

THE    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH 

Is  a  large  and  commodious  building,*  and  stands 
about  two  hundred  yards  west  of  the  state-house.  It 
is  enclosed  by  a  post  and  rail  fence.  Between  the 
church  and  the  enclosure,  are  arranged  in  a  circular 
form,  Lombardy  poplars,  which  in  the  summer  afford 
an  agreeable  shade.  The  interior  of  the  church  is 
plain  and  neat,  and  is  capable  of  containing  a  nume- 
rous congregation.  A  large  and  fine  toned  bell  hangs 
in  the  belfry,  and  is  said  to  have  been  presented  to  the 
city  by  Queen  Anne.  It  has  an  old  but  fi»e  organ  in 
the  gallery.  Fronting  the  reading-desk  and  pulpit, 
affixed  to  the  wall,  is  a  marble  statue  of  chaste  and 
beautiful  sculpture,  erected  in  memory  of  one  of  the 
Dulany  family.  In  the  church-yard  are  several  sculp- 
tured tombs  enclosed  with  iron  railing,  which  contain 
the  remains  of  the  Tasker  family.  There  is  also  a 
monument  erected  in  memory  of  some  of  the  members 
of  the  Carroll  family- 

*  This  church  was  erected  soon  after  the  American  revolution.  Ite 
architect  was  Mr.  Robert  Key,  long  a  worthy  and  respectable  citizen 
of  Annapolis. 


'5*' 


ANNALS  OF  ANNAPOLIS.  245 

THE  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHAPEL 

Is  a  small  structure,  and  is  situated  on  the  Duke  of 

Gloucester  street.  It  was  built  mainly  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  the  venerable  and  generous  Charles 
Carroll  of  Carrollton.  It  has  been  erected  but  a  few 
years,  and  has  a  neat  appearance  outside.  The  interior 
is  very  appropriate,  and  the  general  arrangement  is 
convenient  and  comfortable.  It  has  a  fine  new  organ 
in  the  gallery.  Near  the  chapel  is  a  house  for  the  mi- 
nister, which  is  one  of  a  row  of  buildings  that  formerly 
stood  there,  then  known  as  'Mac  Namara's  row,'  and 
is  said  to  be  one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  the  city. 

THE    METHODIST    CHURCH 

Was  built  about  twenty  years  ago,  and  is  capable  of 
accommodating  a  large  congregation.  This  building 
is  of  plain  structure,  and  is  situated  on  the  north  side* 
of  the  state-house  circle.  It  is  larger  than  the  Roman 
chapel,  but  smaller  than  the  episcopal  church,  its  inte- 
rior is  like  the  outside,  plain,  but  becomingly  neat. 

THE    AFRICAN    HOUSE    OF    WORHIP 

Is  situated  on  West  street,  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city. 
It  is  of  brick  and  but  recently  erected,  large  and  com- 
modious, and  accommodates  the  coloured  population 
of  the  place,  who  deserve  great  credit  for  their  liberal 
contributions  towards  its  erection. 

THE    farmers'    bank    OF    MARYLAND 

Is  situate  at  the  corner  of  West  street,  fronting  the 
church  circle.  It  consists  of  one  story,  and  is  of  singu- 
lar form  externally,  though  the  interior,  particularly  the 


246  ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 

banking  room,  is  well  calculated  for  the  purpose  for 
•which  it  is  intended.  It  may  be  truly  said  of  this 
institution,  that  it  has  ever  been,  and  still  is  con- 
sidered as  sound  and  as  safe  as  any  other  banking 
establishment  in  this  country. 

THE    COURT-HOUSE 

Is  quite  a  modern  edifice,  and  stands  on  the  south-west 
of  the  church  circle.  As  you  enter  there  is  a  spacious 
hall,  on  each  side  of  which  are  two  commodious 
offices.  The  one  on  the  right  hand  is  occupied  by  the 
register  of  wills,  the  other  by  the  clerk  of  the  county. 
Immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  clerk's  office,  is  the 
sheriff's,  and  at  the  end  of  the  hall  is  the  court  room. 
This  is  a  fine,  spacious  room,  and  well  suited  to  the 
purposes  to  which  it  is  appropriated.  On  the  second 
floor  are  the  jury  rooms,  surveyor's  office,  and  rooms 
used  by  the  commissioners  of  the  county.  The  front 
roof  of  the  building,  compared  with  the  rear,  exhibits 
the  appearance  of  wings.  It  is  enclosed  by  a  brick 
wall,  surmounted  by  a  neat  wood  railing. 

THE    CITY    HALL 

Is  situate  on  Church  street.  It  is  a  neat  edifice^  and 
contains  a  hall  on  the  upper  floor  the  whole  length  of 
the  house,  and  is  the  place  of  meeting  for  the  corpo- 
rate authorities  of  the  city.  Rising  from  the  roof  is  a 
belfry,  and  under  the  hall  the  fire  engines  and  appa- 
ratus belonging  the  city  are  kept. 

THE    CITY    HOTEL 

Stands  at  the  corner  of  Church  and  Conduit  streets, 
and  has  been  in  the  occupancy  of  several  individuals 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS.  247 

since  its  establishment  as  such.  The  old  building,  as 
it  is  termed,  originally  belonged  to,  and  was  occupied 
by,  Mr.  Lloyd  Dulany,  as  his  residence.  It  is  two 
stories  high  ;  the  new  building  is  three  ;  and  a  large 
building  of  two  stories  has  recently  been  added,  ex- 
tending back  to  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  street.  The 
present  worthy  and  enterprising  proprietors  have  added 
greatly  to  its  appearance  and  comfort.  The  court  front- 
ing the  main  building  is  tastefully  embellished  by  neat 
enclosures  and  shrubbery.  This  structure,  with  its 
appendages,  covers  a  large  space  of  ground.  It  is  an 
excellent  establishment,  and  in  every  respect  well  cal- 
culated for  the  comfortable  accommodation  of  travel- 
ers, and  others,  who  make  it  a  place  of  abode  or  resort. 

THE    BALL    ROOM 

Is  on  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  street,  and  is  a  spacious 
edifice.  The  dancing  room  is  large  and  of  elegant 
construction,  and  when  illuminated,  shows  to  great 
advantage ;  the  walls  are  decorated  by  a  full  length 
likeness  of  Charles  Lord  Baltimore,  and  portraits  of 
several  of  the  former  governors  of  Maryland.  At  the 
lower  extremity  is  the  supper  room,  which  was  for- 
merly the  revenue  office  of  the  province.  At  the 
upper  end  is  a  card  room,  for  the  use  of  the  gentlemen 
who  may  choose  to  enjoy  the  'circulation  of  the  party- 
coloured  gentry,'  without  having  their  attention  di- 
verted by  the  sound  of  the  violin,  and  the  evolutions 
of  youthful  performers. 

This   building    was   used   as   our    legislative  hall, 
during  the  erection  of  the  present  state-house. 


24$  ANNALS  OF  ANNAPOLIS. 


THE  THEATRE 


Is  also  situated  on  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  street,  and 
is  of  late  construction.  It  is  built  of  wood,  and  is 
rarely  opened,  not  having  votaries  of  the  dramatic 
muse  sufficient  to  sustain  it  even  for  a  season. 

THE    GARRISON    AT    FORT    SEVERN 

Occupies  an  area  of  several  acres,  tastefully  laid  off. 
A  substantial  brick  wall  encloses  in  part  the  garrison, 
consisting  of  several  handsome  buildings ;  the  river 
Severn  encloses  the  residue.  On  approaching  this 
establishment  by  water,  your  admiration  is  elicited  by 
a  romantic  and  picturesque  landscape,  ornamented  by 
the  dwellings,  cottages,  fort,  trees  and  shrubbery. 

There  can  be  no  site  better  suited  for  the  purpose 
to  which  it  is  applied.  Great  labour  has  been  be- 
stowed in  rendering  it  perfectly  healthy.  The  quarters 
or  barracks  are  preserved  with  all  imaginable  neatness, 
and  whatever  belongs  to  the  soldiers'  apartments  is  kept 
in  the  neatest  order.  The  section  of  the  town  where 
the  garrison  is  located  was  formerly  much  neglected, 
and  had  a  very  desolate  appearance.  Now  the  entire 
aspect  of  the  ground  is  greatly  changed  and  improved 
from  the  water's  edge,  where  the  fort  stands,  to  the 
extent  of  the  enclosures. 

The  main  building,  occupied  by  the  commandant  of 
the  post,  was  erected  by  a  Mr.  DufF,  (the  architect  of 
St.  John's  college,)  and  by  him  sold  to  Mr.  Walter 
Dulany,  who  resided  there  for  many  years. 


ANNALS    OF    ANNAPOLIS. 


249 


Governors  of  the  Province  and  State  of  Maryland  from 
the  First  Settlement  in  1633  to  1840. 

UNDER  THE  PROPRIETARY  GOVERNMENT. 


1633. 

Leonard  Calvejt. 

1715. 

John  Hart. 

1647. 

Thomas  Greene. 

1720. 

Charles  Calvert. 

1649. 

William  Stone. 

1727. 

Benedict  Leonard  Calvert. 

1654. 

Commissioners  under  Par- 

1732. 

Samuel  Ogle. 

liament. 

1733. 

Charles  Lord  Baltimore. 

1658. 

Josiah  Fendall. 

1735. 

Samuel  Ogle. 

1661. 

Philip  Calvert. 

1742. 

Thomas  Bladen. 

1662. 

Charles  Calvert. 

1747. 

Samuel  Ogle. 

1676. 

Charles  Lord  Baltimore. 

175S. 

Horatio  Sharpe. 

1678. 

Thomas  Notley. 

1769. 

Robert  Eden. 

1681. 

Charles  Lord  Baltimore. 

UNDER  THE  ROTAl  GOVERNMENT. 


1689.  Government  seized  by 

crown  of  England. 
1692.  Lyonel  Copley. 
1694.  Francis  Nicholson. 


the    1699.  Nathaniel  Blackiston. 
1704.  John  Seymour. 
1714.  John  Hart. 


PRESIDENTS   OF  THE   PROVINCE. 

1703.  Thomas  Tench.  1752.  Benjamin  Tasker. 

1709.  Edward  Lloyd. 


UNDER  THX  STATE  GOVERNMENT. 


1776. 

Provisional  Government. 

1811. 

Robert  Bowie. 

1777. 

Thomas  Johnson. 

1812. 

Levin  Winder. 

1779. 

Thomas  Sim  Lee. 

1815. 

Charles  Ridgely,  of 

1782. 

William  Paca. 

Hampton. 

1785. 

William  Smallwood. 

1818. 

Charles  Goldsborough, 

1788. 

John  Eager  Howard. 

1819. 

Samuel  Sprigg. 

1791. 

George  Plater. 

1822. 

Samuel  Stevens,  Jr. 

1792. 

Thomas  Sim  Lee. 

1825. 

Joseph  Kent. 

1794. 

John  H.  Stone. 

1828. 

Daniel  Martin. 

1797. 

John  Henry. 

1829. 

Thomas  King  Carroll. 

1798. 

Benjamin  Ogle. 

1830. 

Daniel  Martin. 

1801. 

John  Francis  Mercer. 

1831. 

George  Howard. 

1803. 

Robert  Bowie. 

1832. 

James  Thomas. 

1806. 

Robert  Wright. 

1835. 

Thomas  W.  Veazey. 

1809. 

Edward  Lloyd. 

1838. 

William  Grason. 

APPENDIX. 


Letter  from  General  Charles  Lee  io  the  Honourable  Daniel 
of  St.  Thomas  Jenifer,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Council  of 
Safety  of  Maryland. 

♦WiiLiAMSBrHG,  May  the  6iA,  1776. 
^Dear  Sir, — I  find  that  I  am  extremely  censured  not 
only  by  your  board,  but  by  a  multitude  of  others,  for  my 
letter  to  Mr.  Purviance  with  respect  to  the  seizure  of  Mr. 
Eden's  person  and  papers — but  I  really  think  when  the 
circumstances  are  explained,  that  the  censure  will  appear 
unjust,  and  that  I  was  neither  violent,  assuming  nor  preci- 
pitate. When  the  secretary  of  state's  letter  to  your  go- 
vernor was  put  into  my  hands,  I  naturally  concluded  that 
could  we  possess  ourselves  of  all  Mr.  Eden's  papers,  the 
whole  machinations  of  the  ministry  might  be  discovered ; 
that  this  discovery  might  enable  us  to  prevent  their  effects, 
and  perhaps  defeat  the  whole  plan.  The  possession  of  these 
papers  could  not  be  hoped  for  without  previously  securing 
his  person,  and  to  accomplish  this,  the  utmost  secrecy  and 
expedition  were  necessary.  Now,  sir,  as  I  imagined  you 
had  no  troops  at  Annapolis  to  execute  the  purpose,  (but  in 
this  I  find  I  was  mistaken,)  and  as  I  knew  there  were 
troops  in  readiness  at  Baltimore,  and  as  there  was  no  con- 
tinental general  or  other  officer  in  Maryland,  Mr.  Purvi- 
ance, chairman  of  the  committee,  on  the  spot  where  I  had 
conceived  troops  alone  to  be  stationed,  occurred  to  me  as 
the  only  person  to  whom  I  could  with  propriety  and  effect 


252  APPENDIX. 

make  application.  Had  I  known,  sir,  that  a  regiment  or 
any  troops  were  stationed  at  Annapolis,  I  should  undoubt- 
edly, sir,  have  addressed  myself  to  you  as  president  of  the 
council  of  safety. 

'It  is  said,  sir,  that  Maryland  was  out  of  the  district  ot 
my  command;  that  consequently  to  intrude  myself  into 
the  business  and  concerns  of  that  province,  was  assuming 
and  arrogant.  I  really  conceive,  sir,  that  when  the  safety 
or  very  being  of  the  whole  community  appears  at  stake, 
the  part  I  have  acted  in  this  affair  cannot  with  justice  be 
esteemed  arrogance.  I  did  not  presume  authoritatively  to 
order,  but  as  one  servant  of  the  public  earnestly  to  entreat 
and  consider  another  servant  who  alone  appeared  to  me  to 
have  the  means  in  his-  hands,  to  take  a  certain  step  of  the 
best  importance  to  the  public  cause.  I  must,  therefore, 
repeat,  sir,  that  my  reason  for  addressing  myself  to  Mr. 
Purviance,  at  Baltimore,  proceeded  entirely  from  my  igno- 
rance of  there  being  any  troops  at  Annapolis,  and  not  (as 
I  have  been  told  has  been  thrown  out)  from  any  indif- 
ference in  your  virtue  and  decision.  I  suppose  the  com- 
mittee of  safety  here  viewed  it  in  the  same  light,  for  I 
read  my  letter  to  them,  and  it  was  approved  of.  In  times 
like  these,  sir,  I  conceive  that  when  we  have  received 
sufficient  evidences  of  any  treasonable  practices  being 
carried  on,  and  that  when  it  appears  to  us  that  the  imme- 
diate seizure  of  a  particular  traitor's  person,  may  lead  to 
discoveries  on  which  the  salvation  of  the  State  may  de- 
pend ;  that  when  the  utmost  secrecy  and  expedition  are 
necessary  to  the  seizure  of  his  person,  it  is  the  duty  of  a 
good  citizen  not  to  delay  a  single  instant,  if  a  single 
instant's  delay  may  prevent  the  execution.  This  was  the 
manner  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  proceed  in  the  case  of 
Mr.  Wormley.  On  the  discovery  of  his  correspondence 
with  the  enemy,  I  gave  orders  for  the  security  of  his  per- 
son and  papers,  and  then  referred  the  affair  to  the  proper 
tribunal,  the  committee  of  safety.     The  measure  was  so 


APPENDIX.  2j53 

far  from  giving  umbrage  or  creating  jealousy,  that  it  met 
with  their  unanimous  approbation.  If  this  method  is  pro- 
scribed at  a  juncture  like  the  present,  the  great  check  on 
dangerous  correspondence  and  conspiracies  will  be  taken 
off;  if  councils  are  to  be  held  previously  to  the  seizure 
of  any  traitor's  person  or  papers,  notwithstanding  the 
strongest  evidences  against  him,  I  am  much  mistaken  if 
every  traitor  does  not  slip  through  your  hands. 

'I  must  now,  sir,  conclude,  with  assuring  you,  and  the 
respectable  body  over  which  you  preside,  that  if  they  sup- 
pose me  capable  of  aiming  or  wishing  to  extend  the  mili- 
tary authority,  or  trespass  on  the  civil,  they  do  me  the 
most  cruel  injustice.  Although  I  was  bred  in  the  army,  I 
thank  God  the  spirit  and  principles  of  the  citizen  were 
ever  predominant,  and  I  solemnly  declare  that  if  I  thought 
it  possible  I  should  ever  be  so  far  intoxicated  by  military 
command,  as  to  harbour  a  wish  injurious  to  the  civil  supre- 
macy in  all  things,  I  would  now,  whilst  I  retain  my  senses, 
beg  leave  to  divest  myself  of  my  present  office,  and  serve 
as  a  volunteer  in  the  glorious  cause  in  which  I  have  em- 
barked my  person,  fortune  and  reputation.  "What  I  did  in 
this  affair,  I  did  in  the  character  of  a  common  zealous 
member  of  the  community,  not  of  an  officer;  what  ap- 
peared irregular  or  offensive  in  the  mode,  I  hope  I  have 
explained  to  your  satisfaction,  and  I  entreat  that  it  may  be 
entirely  attributed  to  a  mistake  for  which  I  am  heartily 
concerned,  as  it  has  prejudiced  me  in  the  opinion  of  men 
whose  esteem  I  am  most  ambitious  of  obtaining. 
'I  am,  dear  sir,  your  most  obd't,  humble  serv't, 

'Charles  Lee. 
'  To  Daniel  of  St.  Thomas  Jenifer,  Esq. 

President  of  the  Council  of  Safety  of  Maryland.' 


2^2 


254  APPENDIX. 

Letter  from  the  Honourable  John  Hancock  to  the  Honourable 
Convention  of  Maryland. 

'Philadelphia,  June  Aih,  1776. 

'  Gentlemen, — Our  affairs  are  hastening  fast  to  a  crisis  ; 
and  the  approaching  campaign  will,  in  all  probability, 
determine  forever  the  fate  of  America. 

'Such  is  the  unrelenting  spirit  which  possesses  the 
tyrant  of  Britain  and  his  parliament,  that  they  have  left 
no  measure  unessayed  that  had  a  tendency  to  accomplish 
our  destruction. 

'Not  satisfied  with  having  lined  our  coasts  with  ships-of- 
war,  to  starve  us  into  a  surrender  of  our  liberties,  and  to 
prevent  us  from  being  supplied  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, they  are  now  about  to  pour  in  a  number  of  foreign 
troops,  who  from  their  want  of  connections,  and  those  feel- 
ings of  sympathy  which  frequently  bind  together  the  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  same  empire,  will  be  more  likely  to  do 
the  business  of  their  masters  without  remorse  or  com- 
punction. 

'By  the  best  intelligence  from  Canada,  it  appears  that 
our  affairs  in  that  quarter  wear  a  melancholy  aspect. 
Should  the  Canadians  and  Indians  take  up  arms  against 
us,  (which  there  is  too  much  reason  to  fear,)  we  shall  then 
have  the  whole  force  of  that  country  to  contend  with, 
joined  to  that  of  Great  Britain,  and  all  her  foreign  auxilia- 
ries. In  this  situation  what  steps  must  we  pursue  ?  The 
continental  troops  alone,  are  unable  to  stem  the  torrent; 
nor  is  it  possible  at  this  day  to  raise  and  discipline  men 
ready  to  take  the  field  by  the  time  they  will  be  wanting. 

'From  the  secrecy  with  which  the  ministry  carry  on 
their  machinations,  we  neither  know  their  views,  or  how 
near  our  enemies  may  be.  Perhaps  at  this  moment  they 
are  landing  on  some  part  of  our  country. 

'In  this  difficult  and  trying  situation  of  our  affairs,  the 
congress  have  come  to  the  enclosed  resolves,  which  I 
have  it  in  command  to  transmit  you  by  express,  containing 


n 


APPENDIX.  255 

matters  of  the  ^atest  importance,  and  to  which  I  beg 
leave  to  request  your  attention.  You  will  there  find  the 
congress  have  judged  it  necessary  to  call  upon  the  militia 
at  this  alarming  crisis. 

'Should  the  united  colonies  be  able  to  keep  their  ground 
this  campaign,  I  am  under  no  apprehensions  on  account  of 
any  future  one.  We  have  many  disadvantages  at  present 
to  struggle  with,  which  time  and  progress  in  the  art  of 
war  will  remove. 

'But  this  circumstance  should  rouse  us  to  superior  exer- 
tions on  the  occasion. 

'The  militia  of  the  united  colonies  are  a  body  of  troops 
that  may  be  depended  upon. 

'To  their  virtue,  their  delegates  in  congress  now  make 
the  most  solemn  appeal. 

'They  are  called  upon  to  say,  whether  they  will  live 
slaves  or  die  freemen.  They  are  requested  to  step  forth 
in  defence  of  their  wives,  their  children,  their  liberty  and 
every  thing  they  hold  dear.  The  cause  is  certainly  a  most 
glorious  one,  and  I  hope  every  man  in  the  colony  of  Mary- 
land is  determined  to  see  it  gloriously  ended,  or  to  perish 
in  the  ruins  of  it. 

'In  short,  on  your  exertions  at  this  critical  period,  to- 
gether with  those  of  the  other  colonies  in  the  common 
cause,  the  salvation  of  America  now  evidently  depends. 

'Your  colony,  I  am  persuaded,  will  not  be  behind  hand. 
Exert,  therefore,  every  nerve  to  distinguish  yourselves. 
Quicken  your  preparations,  and  stimulate  the  good  people 
of  your  government,  and  there  is  no  danger,  notwith- 
standing the  mighty  armament  with  which  we  are  threat- 
ened, but  they  will  be  led  on  to  victory,  to  liberty,  and  to 
happiness 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  gentlemen, 
your  most  obedient  and  very  humble  servant, 

'John  Hancock,  President. 

'  The  Honourable  the  Convention  of  Maryland.' 


256  APPENDIX. 

Letter  from  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  President  of  Congress, 
to  the  Honourable  Convention  of  Maryland. 

'Philadelphia,  July  8th,  1776. 

'  Gentlemen, — Although  it  is  not  possible  to  foresee  the 
consequences  of  human  action,  yet  it  is  nevertheless  a 
duty  we  owe  ourselves  and  posterity,  in  all  our  public 
councils,  to  decide  in  the  best  manner  we  are  able,  and  to 
trust  the  event  to  that  Being,  who  controls  both  causes 
and  events,  so  as  to  bring  about  his  own  determinations. 

'Impressed  with  this  sentiment,  and  at  the  same  time 
fully  convinced  that  our  affairs  may  take  a  more  favour- 
able turn,  the  congress  have  judged  it  neccessary  to 
dissolve  all  connection  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
American  Colonies,  and  to  declare  them  Free  and  Inde- 
pendent States,  as  you  will  perceive  by  the  enclosed 
declaration,  which  I  am  directed  by  congress  to  transmit 
to  you,  and  to  request  you  will  have  it  proclaimed  in  your 
colony,  in  the  way  you  shall  think  most  proper. 

'The  important  consequences  to  the  American  States 
from  this  Declaration  of  Independence,  considered  as  the 
ground  and  foundation  of  a  future  government,  will  natu- 
rally suggest  the  propriety  of  proclaiming  it  in  such  a  man- 
*  ner,  as  that  the  people  may  be  universally  informed  of  it. 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  gentlemen,  your  most  obe- 
dient and  very  humble  servant, 

'John  Hancock,  President. 
'  The  Hon'ble  Convention  of  Maryland.' 


Letter  from  Colonel  Smallwood  to  the  Hon'ble  Matthew 
Tilghman,  Esq.  President  of  the  Convention  of  Mary- 
land. 

'Camp  of  the  Maryland  Regulars,         ^ 
Head-Quarters,  October  \2th,  J776.  > 
'Sir, — Through  your  hands  I  must  beg  leave  to  address 
the  honourable  Convention  of  Maryland,  and  must  confess, 
not"  without  an  apprehension,  that  I  have  incurred  their 


APPENDIX.  257 

displeasure  for  having  omitted  writing  when  on  our  march 
from  Maryland  for  New  York,  and  since  our  arrival  here. 
Nor  shall  I  in  a  pointed  manner  urge  any  thing  in  my 
defence,  but  leave  them  at  large  to  condemn  or  excuse 
me,  upon  a  presumption,  that  should  they  condemn,  they 
will  at  least  pardon,  and  judge  me  perhaps  less  culpable, 
when  they  reflect,  in  the  first  instance,  on  the  exertions 
necessary  to  procure  baggage  wagons,  provisions  and  house 
room  for  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men,  marched  the  whole 
distance  in  a  body,  generally  from  fifteen  to  twenty  miles 
per  day,  as  the  several  stages  made  it  necessary.  And  in 
the  latter,  I  trust  they  will  give  some  indulgence  for  this 
neglect,  for  since  our  arrival  at  New  York,  it  has  been  the 
fate  of  this  corps  to  be  generally  stationed  at  advanced 
posts,  and  to  act  as  a  covering  party,  which  must  una- 
voidably expose  troops  to  extraordinary  duty  and  hazard, 
not  to  mention  the  extraordinary  vigilance  and  attention 
in  the  commandant  of  such  a  party,  in  disposing  in  the 
best  manner,  and  having  it  regularly  supplied,  for  here  thg 
commanders  of  regiments,  exclusive  of  their  military  duty, 
are  often  obliged  to  exert  themselves  in  the  departments 
of  commissary  and  quarter-master-general,  and  even  di- 
rectors of  their  regimental  hospitals. 

'Perhaps  it  may  not  be  improper  to  give  a  short  detail 
of  occurrences  upon  our  march  to  Long  Island,  and  since 
that  period. 

'The  enemy,  from  the  21st  to  the  27th  of  August,  were 
landing  their  troops  on  the  lower  part  of  Long  Island, 
where  they  pitched  a  large  encampment,  and  ours  and 
their  advanced  parties  were  daily  skirmishing  at  long  shot, 
in  which  neither  party  suffered  much. 

'On  the  26th  the  Maryland  and  Delaware  troops,  which 
composed  part  of  Lord  Sterling's  brigade,  were  ordered 
over. 

'Col.  Haslet  and  his  lieut.  col.  Bedford,  of  the  Delaware 
battalion,  with  lieut.  col.  Hare  and  myself,  were  detained 
22* 


258  APPENDIX. 

on  the  trial  of  lieut.  col.  Zedwitz,  and  though  I  waited  on 
general  Washington,  and  urged  the  necessity  of  attending 
our  troops,  yet  he  refused  to  discharge  us,  alledging  there 
was  a  necessity  for  the  trials  coming  on,  and  that  no 
other  field-officers  could  be  then  had. 

'After  our  dismission  from  the  court  martial,  it  was  too 
late  to  get  over,  but  pushing  over  early  next  morning, 
found  our  regiment  engaged.  Lord  Sterling  having 
marched  them  off"  before  day,  to  take  possession  of  the 
woods  and  difficult  passes  between  our  lines  and  the 
enemy's  encampment ;  but  the  enemy  the  over  night  had 
stole  a  march  on  our  generals,  having  got  through  those 
passes,  met  and  surrounded  our  troops  on  the  plain 
grounds,  within  two  miles  of  our  lines.  Lord  Sterling 
drew  up  his  brigade  on  an  advantageous  rising  ground, 
where  he  was  attacked  by  two  brigades  in  front,  headed 
by  the  generals  Cornwallis  and  Grant,  and  in  his  rear  the 
enemy's  main  body  stood  ready  drawn  up  to  support  their 
own  parties  and  intercept  the  retreat  of  ours.  This  excel- 
lent disposition  and  their  superior  numbers,  ought  to  have 
taught  our  generals  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost  in  secu- 
ring their  retreat,  which  might  at  first  have  been  effected, 
had  the  troops  formed  into  a  heavy  column  and  pushed 
their  retreat,  but  the  longer  this  was  delayed,  it  became 
the  more  dangerous,  as  they  were  then  landing  more 
troops  in  front  from  the  ships. 

'Our  brigade  kept  their  ground  for  several  hours,  and  in 
general  behaved  well,  having  received  some  heavy  fires 
from  the  artillery  and  musquetry  of  the  enemy,  whom 
they  repulsed  several  times ;  but  their  attacks  were  neither 
so  lasting  or  vigorous  as  was  expected,  owing,  as  it  was 
imagined,  to  their  being  certain  of  making  the  whole 
brigade  prisoners  of  war;  for  by  this  time  they  had  so 
secured  the  passes  on  the  road  to  our  lines,  (seeing  our 
parties  were  not  supported  from  thence,  which  indeed  our 
numbers  would  not  admit  of,)  that  there  was  no  possibility 


APPENDIX.  259 

of  retreating  that  way.  Between  the  place  of  action  and 
our  lines  there  lay  a  large  marsh  and  deep  creek,  not 
above  eighty  yards  across  at  the  mouth,  (the  place  of 
action  upon  a  direct  line,  did  not  exceed  a  mile  from  a 
part  of  our  lines,)  towards  the  head  of  which  creek  there 
was  a  mill  and  bridge,  across  which  a  certain  col.  Ward, 
from  New  England,  (who  is  charged  with  having  acted  a 
bashful  part  that  day,)  passed  over  with  his  regiment  and 
then  burnt  them  down,  though  under  cover  of  our  cannon, 
which  would  have  checked  the  enemy's  pursuit  at  any 
time,  otherwise  this  bridge  might  have  afforded  a  secure 
retreat.  There  then  remained  no  other  prospect  but  to 
surrender  or  attempt  to  retreat  over  this  marsh  and  creek  at 
the  mouth,  where  no  person  had  ever  been  known  to  cross. 
In  the  interim,  I  applied  to  general  Washington  for  some 
regiments  to  march  out  to  support  and  cover  their  retreat, 
which  he  urged  would  be  attended  with  too  great  risk  to 
the  party  and  the  lines;  he  immediately  afterwards  sent 
for  and  ordered  me  to  march  down  a  New  England  regi- 
ment, and  captain  Thomas'  company,  which  had  just  come 
over  from  York,  to  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  opposite  where 
the  brigade  was  drawn  up,  and  ordered  two  field  pieces 
down,  to  support  and  cover  their  retreat,  should  they 
make  a  push  that  way.  Soon  after  our  march,  they  began 
to  retreat,  and  for  a  small  time  the  fire  was  very  heavy  on 
both  sides,  till  our  troops  came  to  the  marsh,  where  they 
were  obliged  to  break  their  order,  and  escape  as  quick  as 
they  could  to  the  edge  of  the  creek,  under  a  brisk  fire, 
notwithstanding  which  they  brought  off  twenty-eight 
prisoners. 

'The  enemy  taking  advantage  of  a  commanding  ground, 
kept  up  a  continual  fire  from  four  field  pieces,  which  were 
well  served  and  directed,  and  a  heavy  column  advancing 
on  the  marsh  must  have  cut  our  people  off,  their  guns 
being  wet  and  muddy,  not  one  of  them  could  have  fired ; 
but  having  drawn  up  the  musquetry  and  disposed  of  some 


260  APPENDIX. 

riflemen  conveniently,  with  orders  to  fire  on  them  when 
they  came  within  shot;  however,  the  latter  began  their 
fire  rather  too  soon,  being  at  two  hundred  yards  distance, 
which,  notwithstanding,  had  the  desired  effect,  for  the 
enemy  immediately  retreated  to  the  fast  land,  where  they 
continued  parading  within  six  hundred  yards,  till  our 
troops  were  brought  over ;  most  of  those  who  swam  over, 
and  others  who  attempted  to  cross  before  the  covering 
party  got  down,  lost  their  arms  and  accoutrements  in  the 
mud  and  creek,  and  some  poor  fellows  their  lives,  particu- 
larly two  of  the  Maryland,  two  of  the  Delaware,  one  of 
Astley's  Pennsylvania,  and  two  Hessian  prisoners,  were 
drowned. 

'Thomas'  men  contributed  much  in  bringing  over  this 
part}' — have  enclosed  a  list  of  the  killed  and  missing, 
amounting  to  256,  officers  included.  It  has  been  said  the 
enemy  during  the  action  also  attacked  our  lines,  but  this 
was  a  mistake  ;  not  knowing  the  ground,  one  of  their 
columns  advanced  within  long  shot,  without  knowing  they 
were  so  near,  and  upon  our  artillery  and  part  of  the  mus- 
quetry's  firing  on  them,  they  immediately  fled. 

'The  28th,  during  a  very  hard  rain,  there  was  an  alarm 
that  the  enemy  had  advanced  to  attack  our  lines,  whiqh 
alarmed  the  troops  much,  but  was  without  foundation. 

'The  29th,  it  was  found  by  a  council  of  w^ar,  that  our 
fortifications  were  not  tenable,  and  it  was  therefore  judged 
expedient  that  the  army  should  retreat  from  the  island  that 
night;  to  effect  which,  notwithstanding  the  Maryland 
troops  had  had  but  one  day's  respite,  and  many  other 
troops  had  been  many  days  clear  of  any  detail  of  duty, 
they  were  ordered  on  the  advanced  post  at  fort  Putnam, 
within  250  yards  of  the  enemy's  approaches,  and  joined 
with  two  Pennsylvania  regiments  on  the  left,  were  to  re- 
main and  cover  the  retreat  of  the  army,  which  was  hap- 
pily completed  under  cover  of  a  thick  fog  and  a  south- 
west wind,  both  which  favoured  our  retreat,  otherwise  the 


APPENDIX.  261 

fear,  disorder,  and  confusion  of  some  of  the  eastern  troops, 
must  have  retarded  and  discovered  our  retreat,  and  sub- 
jected numbers  to  be  cut  off. 

'After  remaining  two  days  in  New  York,  our  next  sta- 
tion was  at  Harlaem,  nine  miles  above,  at  an  advanced 
post  opposite  to  Montresore's  and  Bohana's  islands,  which 
in  a  few  days  the  enemy  got  possession  of  without  oppo- 
sition, from  the  former  of  which  we  daily  discoursed  with 
them,  being  within  two  hundred  yards,  and  only  a  small 
creek  between. 

'It  being  judged  expedient  to  abandon  New  York  and 
retreat  to  our  lines  below  fort  Washington,  the  military 
stores,  &c.  had  been  removing  some  days,  when  on  the 
15th  September,  the  enemy  effected  a  landing  on  several 
parts  of  the  island  below,  and  it  is  cutting  to  say,  without 
the  least  opposition. 

'1  have  often  read  and  heard  of  instances  of  cowardice, 
but  hitherto  have  had  but  a  faint  idea  of  it  till  now.  I 
never  could  have  thought  human  nature  subject  to  such 
baseness.  I  could  wish  the  transactions  of  this  day  blotted 
out  of  the  annals  of  America.  Nothing  appeared  but 
flight,  disgrace  and  confusion ;  let  it  suffice  to  say  that  60 
light  infantry  upon  the  first  fire  put  to  flight  two  brigades 
of  the  Connecticut  troops — wretches  who,  however  strange 
it  may  appear,  from  the  brigadier-general  down  to  the  pri- 
vate sentinel,  were  caned  and  whipped  by  the  generals 
Washington,  Putnam  and  Mifilin,  but  even  this  indignity 
had  no  weight,  they  could  not  be  brought  to  stand  one 
shot.  General  Washington  expressly  sent  and  drew  our 
regiment  from  its  brigade,  to  march  down  towards  New 
York,  to  cover  the  retreat  and  to  defend  the  baggage,  with 
direction  to  take  possession  of  an  advantageous  eminence 
near  the  enemy,  upon  the  main  road,  where  we  remained 
under  arms  the  best  part  of  the  day,  till  Sargent's  brigade 
came  in  with  their  baggage,  who  were  the  last  troops 
coming  in,  upon  which  the  enemy  divided  their  main 


262  APPENDIX. 

body  into  two  columns,  one  filing  off  on  the  North  river, 
endeavoured  to  flank  and  surround  us ;  we  had  orders  to 
retreat  in  good  order,  which  was  done,  our  corps  getting 
within  the  lines  a  little  after  dusk. 

'The  next  day  about  1000  of  them  made  an  attempt 
upon  our  lines,  and  were  first  attacked  by  the  brave  col. 
Knolton,  of  New  England,  who  lost  his  life  in  the  action, 
and  the  third  Virginia  regiment,  who  were  immediately 
joined  by  three  independent  companies  under  major 
Price,  and  some  part  of  the  Maryland  flying  camp,  who 
drove  them  back  to  their  lines,  it  is  supposed  with  the  loss 
of  400  men  killed  and  wounded ;  our  party  had  about  100 
killed  and  wounded,  of  the  former  only  15.  Since  which 
we  have  been  viewing  each  other  at  a  distance,  and 
strongly  entrenching,  till  the  9th  October,  when  three  of 
their  men-of-war  passed  up  the  North  river,  above  King's 
bridge,  under  a  heavy  cannonade  from  our  batteries,  which 
has  effectually  cut  off  our  communication  by  water,  with 
Albany. 

'I  must  now  break  off  abruptly,  being  ordered  to  march 
up  above  King's  bridge,  the  enemy  having  landed  6000 
men  from  the  sound  on  Frog's  Point;  50  ships  have  got 
up  there,  landing  more  troops;  there  is  nothing  left  but 
to  fight  them ;  an  engagement  is  generally  expected,  and 
soon.  Have  enclosed  a  copy  of  a  general  return  of  the 
battalion,  and  Veazey's  company,  being  all  the  troops  I 
marched  from  Maryland,  with  the  accoutrements  and 
camp  equipage,  taken  in  Philadelphia,  to  be  rendered  the 
congress,  together  with  our  weekly  general  return. 

'The  independents  are  about  their  returns  of  arms,  ac- 
coutrements and  camp  equipage,  brought  by  them  from 
Maryland,  but  not  having  time  to  finish,  they  must  here- 
after be  returned  to  the  council  of  safety. 

'We  have  upwards  of  300  officers  and  soldiers  of  the 
Maryland  regulars,  very  sick,  which  you  will  observe  by 
the  return,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say,  it's  shocking  to  humanity 


APPENDIX.  263 

to  have  no  more  care  taken  of  them;  this  must  hurt  the* 
service  upon  the  new  establishments.     Majors  Price  and 
Gist,  and  capt.  Stone,  are  in  the  Jerseys,  very  sick,  and 
col.  Ware  and  myself  are  very  unfit  for  duty,  though  we 
attend  it ;  many  more  officers  are  very  unwell. 

'I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  and  very  humble 
servant,  W.  Smallwood.' 


Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Thomas  Johnson,  Esq., 
Governor  of  Maryland. 
•Head-Quarters,  Valley  Forge,  17/A  May,  1778. 

'My  Dear  Sir, — From  a  number  of  concurring  circum- 
stances, there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  enemy  mean  to 
evacuate  Philadelphia. 

'It  is  necessary,  therefore,  to  draw  together  as  great  a 
force  as  can  be  provided  for,  with  the  utmost  expedition. 
But  as  several  of  our  out-posts,  covering  magazines  and 
the  like,  cannot  be  recalled  without  a  body  of  militia  to 
act  in  their  room,  I  am  obliged  to  request  of  the  neigh- 
bouring States  a  reinforcement  for  this  and  other  purposes. 
The  requisition  of  congress  extends  to  5000  militia  from 
the  Jerseys,  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland. 

'A  large  compact  body  of  regulars  are  wanted,  and  seve- 
ral valuable  intentions  to  be  attended  to  at  the  same  time. 

'General  Smallwood,  who  lays  at  Wilmington,  covers  a 
quantity  of  stores  at  the  head  of  Elk.  If  he  is  withdrawn, 
the  enemy  may  destroy  our  magazine  at  that  place. 

'I  would  imagine  that  five  hundred  militia  of  your  State 
would  be  a  sufficient  security,  and  proper  restraint  upon 
the  enemy  on  that  quarter.  I  would,  therefore,  beg  of 
you  to  embody  and  send  forward  five  hundred  of  your 
militia,  equipped,  and  the  most  contiguous  to  the  head  of 
Elk.  You  may  probably  find  it  most  convenient  to  send 
them  by  companies. 

'The  most  expeditious  way  is  certainly  the  best,  and  the 
sooner  ^hey  get  to  the  head  of  Elk,  the  sooner  shall  I  have 
it  in  my  power  to  recall  the  garrison  from  Wilmington, 


264  APPENDIX. 

§nd  complete  such  a  body  of  continental  troops  as  may 
enable  me  to  act  according  to  conjunctures. 

'I  rely  upon  your  particular  assistance  on  this  critical 
occasion,  and  am, 

'Dear  sir,  with  respect  and  esteem, 

'Your  ob't  and  very  humble  servant, 

'Go.  Washington. 
^His  Excellency  Thomas  Johnson, 

'  Governor,  Sfc.  Maryland,  at  Annapolis.' 


Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Daniel  of  St.  Thomas 
Jenifer  and  William  Fitzhugh,  Esquires. 
'        'Head-Quarters,  Middlebrook,  10/A  jlpril,  1779. 

'Gentlemen, — I  have  been  duly  honoured  with  your 
letter  of  the  26th  ultimo  and  its  enclosures. 

'The  length  of  time  in  which  the  rank  has  been  fluc- 
tuating and  undecided,  by  producing,  in  some  measure,  a 
number  of  claims,  gives  apprehension  of  complaint,  from 
whatever  mode  may  be  now  adopted  for  determining  the 
several  disputes. 

'However,  to  afford  the  utmost  latitude  for  their  consi- 
deration, I  have  ordered  a  board  of  general  officers  to  sit, 
to  hear  and  report  on  respective  claims,  precedencies,  and 
the  rank  of  the  whole  line,  which  I  hope  will  enable  me 
to  complete  a  final  arrangement,  as  much  as  possible  to 
the  general  satisfaction. 

'The  officers  cannot  but  be  pleased  in  the  provision 
which  you  have  made  them,  not  only  for  the  prospect  of 
ease  which  it  promises,  but  that  honourable  distinction  of 
past  services,  when  they  shall  resume  the  happy  character 
of  citizen. 

'I  am,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  regard,  your  most 
obedient  and  humble  servant,  G.  Washington. 

(Public  service.) 
'Daniel  of  St.  Thomas  Jenifer,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Senate, 

and  William  Fitzhugh,  Esq.,  Speaker  of  the  House  of 

Delegates,  at  Annapolis.' 


APPENDIX.  265 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Governor  Lee. 
'Head-Quarters,  Morristown,  24th  Jantiary,  1780. 
'Sir, — I  have  been  honoured  with  your  excellency's 
letter  of  the  26th  December,  and  its  inclosures.  The 
immediate  attention  of  government  to  the  distresses  of  the 
army,  and  the  effectual  assistance  promised  from  the  ope- 
ration of  the  act,  cannot  but  cMm  the  acknowledgments 
of  every  good  citizen. 

'I  flatter  myself  from  your  exertions,  and  those  of  the 
other  States  from  which  we  derive  our  supplies,  that  we 
shall  not  again  experience  a  like  evil. 
'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

'G.  Washington. 
*  Thomas  Sim  Lee,  Esq.  Governor,  Sfc.  at  Annapolis  J 


Letter  from,  the  same  to  the  same,  dated 

'February  \mh,  1780. 

'Sir, — About  the  latter  end  of  December  last,  I  had  the 
honour  to  receive  a  letter  from  his  excellency  governor 
Johnson,  dated  the  27th  October,  in  which  he  proposes  an 
arrangement  for  the  three  companies  of  artillery,  belong- 
ing to  the  State  of  Maryland,  and  asks  my  opinion  upon 
it.  As  general  Knox,  being  at  the  head  of  the  artillery, 
is  consequently  best  acquainted  with  its  interior  circum- 
stances, and  can  best  judge  of  the  operation  of  any  ar- 
rangements which  might  take  place,  I  communicated  the 
letter  to  him  to  know  his  sentiments.  His  answer  you 
will  find  in  the  enclosed  extract.  I  beg  leave  to  add  that 
the  mode  he  recommends  appears  to  me  well  calculated 
to  do  justice  to  the  State,  to  the  ofiicers  of  the  three 
companies,  and  to  promote  the  general  good  of  the  service. 

'It  is  essential  to  have  the  corps  that  compose  the  army 
upon  our  formation,  regulated  by  general  principles.  The 
contrary  is  productive  of  innumerable  inconveniences. 

'This  makes  me  wish  the  idea  of  erecting  the  four  com- 
23 


36<S  APPENDIX. 

panies  into  a  separate  coq>s   under  the   command    of  a 
major,  may  be  relinquished. 

'If  the  plan  now  proposed  is  agreeable  to  the  views  of 
the  State,  I  shall  be  happy  its  intentions  may  be  signified 
as  speedily  as  possible  to  congress,  that  the  incorporation 
and  arrangement  may  be  carried  into  execution. 
'I  have  the  honour,  &c. 

'G.  Washington.' 


Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,  dated 

'March  26th,  1780. 
'Sir, — Your  excellency  will  have  received,  I  presume, 
before  this,  a  transcript  of  an  act  of  congress  of  the  25th  of 
last  month,  calling  on  the  several  States  for  specific  quan- 
tities of  provisions,  rum  and  forage  for  the  army,  and 
directing  the  articles  of  supplies  to  be  collected  and  de- 
posited at  such  places  in  each  of  the  States  as  should  be 
judged  most  convenient  by  me.  In  the  case  of  a  defen- 
sive war  like  ours,  which  depends  almost  wholly  on  the 
movements  and  operations  of  the  enemy,  it  is  difficult,  if 
not  impracticable,  to  fix  on  places  of  deposite  for  stores, 
which  may  not  be  rendered  improper  by  subsequent 
events,  and  all  we  can  do  upon  such  occasions,  is  to  collect 
them  where  it  shall  appear  from  a  comparative  view  of 
circumstances,  that  they  will  be  probably  secure,  and  most 
likely  to  facilitate  the  purposes  intented.  I  have  con- 
sidered the  point  with  respect  to  the  supplies  required  of 
your  State,  and  I  beg  leave  to  inform  your  excellency,  that 
it  appears  to  me,  that  they  should  be  deposited  in  the 
following  places,  and  in  the  proportions  set  against  each 
respectively,  viz : 

Barrels  Flour. 

Head  of  Elk,  ....     14,000 

Baltimore, 3,000 

George  Town,       .     .     .      3,000 


Tons  Hay. 

Bushets  Corn. 

140 

52,152 

30 

2,000 

30 

2,000 

20,000        200        56,152 


APPENDIX.  267 

=  'As  to  the  beef,  the  time  and  place  of  delivery,  and  the 
proportion  from  time  to  time,  must  of  necessity  be  go- 
verned by  the  occasional  requisitions  of  the  commissary- 
general. 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

'G.  Washington.' 


Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Philip  Schuyler,  John 

Matthews,  andJVathaniel  Peabody,  Committee  of  Congress. 
'Head-Qx7ARTERS,  Sfringfield,  JuTie  llth,  1780. 

'  Gentlemen, — It  appears  to  me  to  be  a  very  eligible  step,^ 
at  the  present  juncture,  to  reiterate  our  insta;nces  with  the 
several  States,  to  engage  them  to  press  the  measures  re- 
commended in  your  former  letter.  Not  only  the  time  is 
sliding  away  very  fast,  every  moment  of  which  ought  to 
be  improved  for  the  intended  co-operation,  but  the  move-' 
ments  of  the  enemy  demand  every  exertion  in  our  power 
for  the  purpose  of  defence.  ', 

'There  can  now  remam  no  doubt  that  Charleston  and 
its  garrison  have  fallen.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  the  whole  or  the  greatest 
part  of  his  force  will  shortly  arrive  at  New  York". 

'The  expectation  of  the  French  fleet  and  army,  will 
certainly  determine  the  enemy  to  unite  their "  forces. 
General  Knyphausen  still  continues  in  the  Jerseys,  with 
all  the  force  which  can  be  spared  from  New  York ;  a  force 
greatly  superior  to  ours. 

'Should  Sir  Henry  join  him,  the  superiority  will  be 
decided,  and  equal  to  almost  any  thing  the  enemy  may 
think  proper  to  attempt.  It  is  true  they  are  at  this  time 
inactive,  but  their  continuance  where  they  are,  proves 
that  they  have  some  project  of  importance  in  contempla- 
tion. Perhaps  they  are  only  waiting  till  the  militia  grow ' 
tired  and  return  home,  (which  they  are  doing  every  hour) 
to  prosecute  their  designs  with  less  opposition. 

'This  would  be  a  critical  moment  for  us.     Perhaps  they 


268  APPENDIX. 

are  waiting  the  arrival  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  either  to 
push  up  the  North  river  against  the  highland  posts,  or  to 
bend  their  whole  force  against  this  army.  In  either  case 
the  most  disastrous  consequences  are  to  be  apprehended. 
You,  who  are  well  acquainted  with  our  situation,  need  no 
arguments  to  evince  the  danger. 

'The  militia  of  this  State  have  run  to  arms,  and  behaved 
with  an  ardor  and  spirit  of  which  there  are  few  examples. 

'But  perseverance  in  enduring  the  rigors  of  military 
service,  is  not  to  be  expected  from  those  who  are  not  by 
profession  obliged  to  it. 

'The  reverse  of  this  opinion  has  been  a  great  misfortune 
in  our  affairs,  and  it  is  high  time  we  should  recover  from 
an  error  of  so  pernicious  a  nature.  We  must  absolutely 
have  a  force  of  a  different  composition,  or  we  must  relin- 
quish the  contest. 

'In  a  few  days  we  may  expect  to  have  to  depend  almost 
wholly  on  our  continental  force,  and  this  (from  your  own 
observation)  is  totally  inadequate  to  our  sjrfety.  The  exi- 
gency calls  loudly  upon  the  States  to  carry  all  the  recom- 
mendations of  the  committee  into  the  most  vigorous  and 
immediate  execution,  but  more  particularly  that  of  com- 
pleting our  battalions  by  a  draft,  and  with  all  the  expe- 
dition possible. 

'I  beg  to  advise  that  these  ideas  be  all  clearly  held  up 
to  the  States.  Whatever  inconvenience  there  may  be  in 
diffusing  the  knowledge  of  our  circumstances,  delicate  as 
they  are,  there  is,  in  my  opinion,  more  danger  in  conceal- 
ing than  disclosing  them. 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  perfect  respect  and 
esteem,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  ser'vt, 

'Geo.  Washington. 
•  Committee  of  Congress  for  Co-operation.' 


APPENDIX.  269 

Letter  from    General    Washington    to    the    Committee    of 
Congress  for   Co-operation. 
'Heab-Quarters,  Springfield,  June  12th,  1780. 

'Gentletnen, — I  have  received  information,  which  though 
not  officid,  I  deem  authentic,  that  some  of  the  States  have 
taken  up  the  measure  of  augmenting  their  battalions  by 
draft,  on  a  less  extensive  footing  than  was  urged  in  your 
circular  letter  of  the  23d  of  May.  Though  I  wish  to  pay 
in  every  instance,  implicit  deference  to  the  determination 
of  the  respective  States,  I  think  it  my  duty,  in  the  present 
crisis,  once  more  to  declare  with  freedom,  that  I  conceive 
the  measure  of  filling  our  battalions  to  their  full  comple- 
ment, fundamental  to  a  co-operation  on  a  large  scale,  that 
any  thing  short  of  this,  will  infallibly  compel  us  to  confine 
ourselves  to  a  mere  defensive  plan,  except  as  to  some  little 
partial  indecisive  enterprize  against  remote  points,  and 
will  of  course  disappoint  the  expectations  of  our  allies,  and 
protract  the  war. 

'The  force  which  has  been  stated  as  necessary,  is  as 
small  as  can  give  us  any  prospect  of  a  decisive  effort.  If 
it  is  not  furnished,  we  must  renounce  every  hope  of  this 
kind. 

'It  remains  with  the  States  to  realize  the  consequences. 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect  and . 
esteem,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

'Go.  Washington. 
'The  Committee  of  Co-operation.' 


Letter  from    General    Washington    to    the    Committee   of 
Congress. 
•Head-Quarters,  Rockaway,  23d  June,  1780. 
'Gentlemen, — The  enemy  are  now  in  full  force,  bending 
their  march  towards  Morristown,  and  by  my  last  advices 
had  advanced  beyond  Springfield.     They  were  vigorously 
opposed   by   our  advanced   corps.     But  what  could   the 
9&* 


270  APPENDIX. 

valour  of  a  handful  do  against  so  infinite  a  superiority  of 
numbers  ? 

'The  enemy  can  effect  any  particular  object  they  may 
attempt.  Besides  the  army,  they  can  have  no  other  in 
this  State,  than  our  stores,  as  we  cannot  defend  them,  we 
must  endeavour  to  remove  them. 

'I  am  so  entirely  engaged  in  attention  to  our  military 
operations,  that  I  must  entreat  you  to  write  to  the  execu- 
tives of  Pennsylvania  and  Jersey,  pressing  them  to  bring 
put  all  the  wagons  they  can  to  our  relief.  An  application 
has  been  already  made  to  Pennsylvania  for  two  hundred 
and  fifty  wagons,  they  ought  to  be  instantly  furnished. 

'But  we  do  not  know  what  may  be  the  ultimate  designs 
of  the  enemy,  all  we  know  is,  that  they  are  very  strong, 
and  that  we  are  very  weak. 

'I  beg  leave  to  recommend  that  the  States  may  be  again 
called  upon  to  redouble  their  exertions,  to  comply  with 
the  demands  that  have  been  already  made  upon  them. 

'It  is  essential  to  our  immediate  safety,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  expected  co-operation.  If  she  means  to  be  free, 
this  is  the  moment  for  America  to  exert  herself. 

'With  every  sentiment  of  esteem,  I  have  the  honour  to 
be,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

'Go.  Washington. 
'Hon'ble  Committee  of  Co-operation,' 


Litter  from    General    Washington    to    the    Committee    of 

Congress. 

'Head-Quarters,  July  13th,  1780. 

'Gentlemen, — We   have   received    intelligence   through 

different  channels,  from  New  York,  that  the  Gaudeloupe 

had  arrived  there  on  Sunday  morning,  and  brought  an 

account  that  she  had  fallen  in  with  a  large  French  fleet, 

consisting  of  several  sail  of  the  line,  and  a  number  of 

transports,  between  the  capes  of  Virginia  and  Delaware. 

This  intelligence  has  every   appearance  of  authenticity, 


APPENDIX.  271 

and  if  true,  the  arrival  of  the  fleet  on  the  coast  may  be 
instantly  looked  for.  This  indeed  must  be  the  case,  at 
any  rate,  from  the  time  they  are  said  to  have  sailed. 

'It  cannot  be  too  much  lamented,  that  our  preparations 
are  still  so  greatly  behind  hand.  Not  a  thousand  men, 
that  I  have  heard  of,  have  yet  joined  the  army ;  and  in  all 
probability,  the  period  for  commencing  our  operations  is  at 
hand. 

'I  am  happy  to  learn  that  a  spirit  of  animation  has 
diffused  itself  throughout  the  States,  from  which  we  may 
expect  the  happiest  consequences.  But  the  exigency  is 
so  pressing,  that  we  ought  to  multiply  our  efforts  to  give 
new  activity  and  despatch  to  our  measures  ;  levying  and 
forwarding  the  men,  providing  the  supplies  of  every  sort 
required :  forage  and  transportation  demand  particular 
attention. 

'After  what  has  been  preconcerted  with  the  honoura- 
ble, the  congress,  after  two  months  previous  notice  of  the 
intended  succour,  if  our  allies  find  us  unprepared,  and  are 
obliged  to  wait  several  weeks  in  a  state  of  inaction,  it  is 
easy  to  conceive  how  unfavourable  the  impressions  it  will 
make  of  our  conduct.  Besides  this,  the  season  is  exceed- 
ingly advanced.  A  decisive  enterprize,  if  our  means  are 
equal  to  it,  will  not  permit  us  to  lose  a  moment  of  the 
time  left  for  military  operations,  which  if  improved  with 
all  the  vigour  in  our  power,  is  less  than  were  to  be  wished 
for  an  undertaking  of  so  arduous  and  important  a  nature ; 
so  much  is  at  stake  ;  so  much  to  be  hoped ;  so  much  to  be 
lost ;  that  we  shall  be  inexcusable  if  we  do  not  employ  all 
our  zeal  and  all  our  exertion. 

'With  the  highest  respect  and  esteem,  I  have  the  honour 
to  be,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

'Go.  Washington. 
^The  Committee  of  Co-operation.* 


272  APPENDIX. 

Letter  from    General    Washington  to    Governor   Lee,   of 
Maryland,  dated  < 

'July  26,  1780. 
'Sir, — I  have  been  honoured  with  your  excellency's 
favour  of  the  10th,  enclosing  copies  of  the  several  laws 
passed  by  the  legislature  of  your  State,  for  procuring  the 
supplies  of  men,  provisions  and  carriages,  required  by  the 
Honourable  Committee  of  Co-operation  in  conjunction 
with  me. 

'The  readiness  with  which  these  laws  were  passed,  and 
the  pointed  attention  which  your  excellency  seems  deter- 
mined to  pay  to  the  due  execution  of  them,  are  happy  pre- 
sages that  they  will  be  speedily  and  fully  carried  into  effect. 
'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  8tc. 

'Go.  Washington.' 


Letter  from    General    Washington    to    the    Committee    of 
Congress. 
•Head-Quarters,  Orangetown,  nth  jSugust,  1780. 

'Gentlemen, — We  are  now  arrived  at  the  middle  of 
August,  if  we  are  able  to  undertake  any  thing  in  this 
quarter  this  campaign,  our  operations  must  commence  in 
less  than  a  month  from  this,  or  it  will  be  absolutely  too 
late.  It  will  then  be  much  later  than  were  to  be  wished, 
and  with  all  the  exertions  that  can  be  made,  we  shall 
probably  be  straitened  in  time. 

'But  I  think  it  my  duty  to  inform  you,  that  our  pros- 
pects of  operating  diminish  in  proportion  as  the  effects  of 
our  applications  to  the  respective  States  unfold  ;  and  I  am 
sorry  to  add,  that  we  have  every  reason  to  apprehend,  we 
shall  not  be  in  a  condition  at  all  to  undertake  any  thing 
decisive. 

'The  completion  of  our  continental  battalions  to  their 
full  establishment  of  five  hundred  and  four,  rank  and  file, 
has  been  uniformly  and  justly  held  up  as  the  basis  of 
offensive  operations. 


APPENDIX.  273 

'How  far  we  have  fallen  short  of  this,  the  following 
state  of  the  levies  received,  and  of  the  present  deficiencies, 
will  show. 

'By  a  return  of  the  16th  instant  we  had  received  from 

New  Hampshire, 457 

Massachusetts, 2,898 

Rhode  Island, •  .     .     .     .      502 

Connecticut,    . 1,356 

New  York, 263* 

New  Jersey, 165 

Pennsylvania, 482 

Rank  and  file, 6,143 

'The  deficiencies  of  the  battalions  from  a  return  of  the 
12th,  allowing  for  the  levies  since  arrived,  to  the  16th, 
Of  New  Hampshire,  three  battalions,    .     .    248 
Of  Massachusetts,  including  Jackson's  adopt- 
ed, 16  battalions, 3,514 

Of  Rhode  Island,  2  battaUons,    ....      198 
Of  Connecticut,  including  Webbs'  battalion 

adopted,  9  battalions, 1,866 

Of  New  York,  5  battalions,    ....       1,234 
Of  New  Jersey,  11  battalions 2,768    ^ 

Rank  and  file, 10,397 

'If  the  amount  of  these  deficiencies  and  the  detached 
corps,  necessarily  on  the  frontier,  and  at  particular  posts, 
be  deducted,  and  a  proper  allowance  made  for  the  ordi- 
nary casualties,  and  for  the  extra  calls  upon  the  army  for 
wagoners,  artificers,  &c.  it  will  be  easy  to  conceive  how 
inadequate  our  operating  force  must  be  to  any  capital 
enterprize  against  the  enemy.  It  is  indeed  barely  "suffi- 
cient for  defence. 

'Hitherto  all  the  militia  for  three  months,  that  have 
taken  the  field  under  my  orders,  have  been  about  700 
from  New  Hampshire,  1,700  from  Massachusetts,  800 
from  New  York,  500  from  New  Jersey. 


2*74  APPENDIX. 

'A  part  of  the  eastern  militia  has  been  detained  to  assist 
our  allies  at  Rhode  Island,  and  will  shortly  march  to  join 
the  army. 

'But  from  all  the  information  I  have,  the  number  of 
militia  will  fall  as  far  short  of  the  demand  as  the  continen- 
tal troops ;  and  from  the  slow  manner  in  which  the  latter 
have  for  some  time  past  come  in,  I  fear  we  have  had 
nearly  the  whole  we  are  to  expect. 

'In  the  article  of  provisions,  our  prospects  are  equally 
unfavourable.  We  are  now  fed  by  a  precarious  supply 
from  day  to  day. 

'The  commissary,  from  what  has  been  done  in  the  seve- 
ral States,  so  far  from  giving  assurances  of  a  continuance 
of  this  supply,  speaks  in  the  most  discouraging  terms,  as 
you  will  perceive  by  the  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  of  the 
15th  instant,  in  which  he  proposes  sending  back  the  Penn- 
sylvania militia,  who  were  to  assemble  at  Trenton  the 
12th,  on  the  principle  of  a  failure  of  supplies. 

'As  to  forage  and  transportation,  our  prospects  are  still 
worse.  These  have  lately  been  principally  procured  by 
military  impress,  a  mode  too  violent,  unequal,  oppressive, 
and  consequently  odious  to  the  people,  to  be  long  prac- 
tised with  success. 

'In  this  state  of  things,  gentlemen,  I  leave  it  to  your 
own  judgment  to  determine  how  little  it  will  be  in  my 
power  to  answer  the  public  expectations,  unless  more 
competent  means  can  be,  and  are,  without  delay,  put  into 
my  hands. 

'From  the  communications  of  the  general  and  admiral 
of  our  allies,  the  second  division,  without  some  very  unfor- 
tunate contrariety,  will  in  all  probability  arrive  before  the 
time  mentioned  as  the  ultimate  period  for  commencing  our 
operations. 

'I  submit  it  to  you  whether  it  will  not  be  advisable  im- 
mediately to  lay  before  the  several  States,  a  view  of  our 
circumstances  at  this  juncture,  in  consequence  of  which 
they  may  take  their  measures. 


APPENDIX.  2T(§' 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect  and 
esteem,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

'Go.  Washington. 
'  The  Honourable  the  Committee 

of  Congress  for  Co-operation. 
'N.  B.   The  returns  of  the  Rhode-Island  recruits,  is  to 
the  last  of  July.     More  may  have  since  joined. 

'There  is  a  body  of  Connecticut  State  troops  and  militia, 
stationed  on  the  Sound,  employed  in  preparing  fascines.' 


Letter  from  General  Washington  to  George  Plater,  Esq., 
President  of  the  Senate,  and  William  Bruff,  Speaker  of 
the  House  of  Delegates  of  Maryland,  dated  _•  ^ 

'February  9th,  1781.  ^ 
'Gentlemen, — I  am  honoured  with  your  favour  of  the 
27th  ultimo.  As  the  troops  of  Maryland  compose  part  of 
the  southern  army  now  under  the  immediate  command  of 
major-general  Green,  I  think  there  would  be  an  impro- 
priety (as  it  may  interfere  with  the  arrangements  of  that 
army)  to  give  general  Smallwood  directions  to  remain  in 
Maryland  for  the  purposes  you  mention ;  but  if  his  doing 
this  is  not  incompatible  with  the  orders  or  views  of  general 
Green,  I  have  no  objection  to  his  remaining  in  that  State 
till  application  can  be  made  to  general  Green,  who  I  make 
no  doubt  will  acquiesce  in  a  measure  which  seems  calcu- 
lated for  the  public  good,  if  general  Smallwood's  services 
from  the  army  can  be  dispensed  with. 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &,c. 

'Go.  Washington.' 


Letter  from  General   Washington  to  Governor  Lee,  dated 

'June  7,  1781. 
'Sir, — By  a  resolve  of  congress  of  31st  May,  two  batta- 
lions of  infantry  and  a  corps  of  horse,  consisting  of  sixty-. 


276  APPENDIX. 

four  dragoons,  are  required  of  the  State  of  Maryland,  to 
serve  for  three  months  from  the  time  of  their  respectively 
rendezvousing  at  the  place  or  places  directed  by  me. 

'Your  excellency  has  no  doubt  been  made  acquainted 
that  the  aforegoing  requisition  is  founded  upon  the  alarm- 
ing progress  which  the  enemy  are  making  in  Virginia. 

'You  will  be  pleased,  therefore,  to  give  orders  to  the 
officers  commanding  the  respective  corps,  to  march  by 
detachments  as  they  are  raised  and  equipped,  to  whatever 
place  may  be  the  head-quarters  of  the  American  army  in 
Virginia  or  Maryland,  (should  the  enemy  have  advanced 
into  that  State,)  and  take  their  further  commands  from  the 
general  or  other  commanding  officer. 

'I  need  but  refer  your  excellency  to  the  circular  letter  of 
the  president  of  congress,  of  the  1st  inst.,  for  the  reasons 
which  ought  to  influence  the  exertions  of  your  State,  most , 
particularly  at  this  moment. 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

'Go.  Washington.' 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  General  Washington  to  Governor 
Lee,  dated 

'lOth  My,  17S1, 

'I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
excellency's  favour  of  the  29th  June.  It  is  with  very 
great  satisfaction  I  observe  the  proceedings  of  the  general 
assembly  of  your  State,  which  you  have  been  pleased  to 
communicate  to  me. 

'The  exertions  of  that  legislature  have  heretofore  been 
laudable,  and  I  am  exceedingly  glad  to  see  the  same  spirit 
still  prevailing.  G.  Washington.' 


Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Governor  Lee. 
•Head-Quarters,  Chatham,  27th  Auguit,  1781. 
'Sir — Official  accounts  which  I  have  received,  giving 
me  reason  to  expect  the  arrival  of  a  powerful  fleet  of  our 


APPENDIX.  277 

allies  very  soon  in  the  Chesapeake,  if  not  already  there ; 
this  expectation,  together  with  some  other  circumstances 
not  necessary  at  present  to  detail  to  your  excellency,  have 
induced  me  to  make  a  total  alteration  in  the  concerted 
operations  of  this  campaign.  In  consequence,  I  am  now 
marching  a  very  considerable  detachment  from  the  Ame- 
rican army,  with  the  whole  of  the  French  troops,  imme- 
diately to  Virginia. 

'As  our  hopes  of  success  against  lord  Cornwallis,  in  a 
great  measure  depend  on  the  despatch  and  celerity  of  our 
movements,  I  have  to  request  in  the  most  earnest  manner, 
all  the  aid  and  assistance  from  your  excellency,  which  we 
may  have  occasion  for,  and  that  may  be  in  your  power  to 
afibrd  us. 

'Among  these  the  means  of  transportation  from  the  head 
of  Elk  to  the  point  of  operation,  will  be  among  the  most 
essential.  All  the  water  craft  that  can  be  procured  suit- 
able for  the  transportation  of  our  army,  with  their  artillery, 
baggage,  stores,  &lc.,  will  be  needed,  and  should  be  ready 
at  the  head  of  Elk,  by  the  6th  of  September ;  a  quantity 
of  forage  will  also  be  necessary  for  the  cattle  which  will 
unavoidably  attend  the  army.  As  I  shall  probably  be  dis- 
appointed of  a  quantity  of  salted  provisions,  which  cannot 
with  safety  be  conveyed  from  the  eastern  States,  I  must 
beg  your  excellency  to  pay  particular  attention  to  that 
article,  if  any  is  to  be  obtained  in  your  State.  Other  aids, 
as  well  in  provisions  as  other  articles,  will  probably  be 
needed,  which  cannot  at  this  moment  be  particularly 
specified. 

'I  communicate  my  intentions  to  your  excellency,  and 
have  the  fullest  confidence  that  I  shall  receive  every  aid 
and  assistance  that  is  in  your  power,  towards  their  exe- 
cution. 

'I  expect  to  have  no  occasion  to  call  on  you  for  the  aid 
of  men,  further  than  your  State  troops  which  are  ordered 
24 


278  APPENDIX. 

to  be  raised,  and  which  I  hope  you  have  already  com- 
pleted. 

'Mr.  Robert  Morris  will  have  the  principal  agency  in 
procuring  the  water  craft  mentioned ;  perhaps  nothing 
more  will  be  expected  from  your  excellency  in  that  arti- 
cle, than  to  afford  Mr.  Morris  every  aid  which  he  may 
stand  in  need  of,  from  government,  in  their  procurement. 
This,  I  am  persuaded,  you  will  do  with  readiness  and 
decision. 

'The  moment  is  critical — the  opportunity  is  precious — 
the  prospect  is  most  happily  favourable.  I  hope  that  no 
supineness  or  want  of  exertion  on  our  own  part,  may 
prove  the  means  of  a  fatal  disappointment. 

'I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  sincerity  of  esteem 
and  regard,  your  excellency's  most  obedient  and  humble 
servant.  Go.  Washington. 

•p.  S.  Our  forage  will  be  principally  wanted  at  the  head 
of  Elk,  and  from  thence  on  the  route  to  Georgetown. 

'To  his  Excellency  Governor  Lee,  of  Maryland.' 


Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Governor  Lee. 
•Mount  Vernon,  11/A  September,  1781. 

'Sir, — I  intended  on  passing  through  Maryland,  to  have 
done  myself  the  pleasure  to  have  called  on  your  excel- 
lency, but  circumstances  pressing  upon  me,  as  I  advanced 
on  my  march,  and  time  slipping  too  fast  from  me,  I  found 
a  necessity  of  getting  on  with  that  rapidity  as  has  obliged 
me  to  proceed  without  calling  at  Annapolis. 

'I  am  exceedingly  pleased  to  find,  as  I  passed  through 
your  State,  that  a  spirit  for  exertion  prevails  universally 
in  such  manner  as  gives  me  the  happiest  prospects  of 
receiving  very  effectual  support  from  you. 

'Great  attention  is  necessary  to  be  given  to  the  article 
of  supplies.  I  mention  this  circumstance,  as  I  am  just 
informed  from  below,  that  the  army  is  in  distress  at  this 


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